Senator Dick Cohen addresses a packed hall at the Legacy Amendment 10th Year Anniversary Celebration (photo credit: Freshwater) By Matt Doll – Minnesota Environmental Partnership On Wednesday evening, hundreds of legislators, advocates, state staff, and other interested Minnesotans gathered at the Minnesota History Center to celebrate the ten-year anniversary of one of our state’s great innovations… Read more »
By Matt Doll – Minnesota Environmental Partnership In the wake of the tragic collapse of a Brazilian mining waste dam that killed more than 100 people and displaced thousands more, observers around the world have asked, “Could it happen here?” While it is evident that lax enforcement and managerial malfeasance contributed greatly to this disaster, it… Read more »
By Matt Doll – Minnesota Environmental Partnership This week, the Minnesota Legislature began its discussions of bills that would protect the viability of Minnesota’s Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund and finance infrastructure investments responsibly, after last year’s legislative raid threatened to deplete the fund for unconstitutional purposes. Though the bills will continue to be amended… Read more »
By Matt Doll – Minnesota Environmental Partnership This week, the Minnesota House of Representatives’ Energy and Climate Finance and Policy Division committee took testimony from some of Minnesota’s top scientists on the effects of our greatest threat – climate change – and some of the steps Minnesota can take to face this challenge. This committee is… Read more »
By Matt Doll – Minnesota Environmental Partnership Over the past week, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has released new data on Minnesota’s progress – and the challenge we face – on reducing pollution in our atmosphere. The first report, released last week, found that Minnesota’s greenhouse gas emissions have fallen, especially in the electricity generation… Read more »
By Matt Doll – Minnesota Environmental Partnership This week, Governor-elect Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor-elect Peggy Flanagan announced new additions to their team of state agency commissioners, including three with significant oversight over Minnesota’s environment: Sarah Strommen for the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Laura Bishop for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), and Thom Petersen… Read more »
By Matt Doll – Minnesota Environmental Partnership On Monday, January 7, the eight-year administration of Governor Mark Dayton will draw to a close with the inauguration of Governor-Elect Tim Walz. During the final full month of the Dayton administration, state agencies have issued three major decisions that will have wide-ranging consequences for Minnesota’s natural resources and… Read more »
photo credit: Dept. of Energy By Matt Doll – Minnesota Environmental Partnership As the COP24 climate summit wraps up in Poland, there’s no question that climate change is rightly under the global and national spotlight. Countries, states, and companies are working to shape the bold solutions we need to tackle this unprecedented challenge, and Minnesota has… Read more »
On Friday, December 7, the Minnesota Environmental Partnership held our annual meeting for member organizations, gathering together many of the groups around Minnesota that make up our coalition. We discussed the challenges we faced, but also the exciting efforts by hardworking people around the state to build a better future for ourselves and the generations… Read more »
By Matt Doll – Minnesota Environmental Partnership On Tuesday, November 27, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a major piece of legislation, the U.S. Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2017, which was passed by the Senate earlier this month. The bill, now awaiting a Presidential signature, contains legislation called the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA),… Read more »