Today’s topics: Agriculture, Development, Energy, Mining, Other, Waste and Water.
(more…)

Today’s topics: Agriculture, Development, Energy, Great Lakes, Mining, Natural Areas, Transportation and Water.
(more…)

The registration deadlne for the 2007-2008 edition of the Land Stewardship Project’s Farm Beginnings program is Thursday, Aug. 30. Classes will be held in La Crosse, Wis., and Marshall, Minn. This is the 10th anniversary of Farm Beginnings, which provides students training in setting up economically and environmentally sustainable farming operations. The decade mark is a prime opportunity to look back at what’s happened to some of those 300 people that have passed through the course since its humble beginnings in 1997. But taking a trip down memory lane is not for the weak of heart. I learned that while working for a farm magazine almost 20 years ago. Once, at a staff meeting, I brought up the bright idea of launching a “Whatever happened to?” department. The point would be to update readers on someone we had featured in a cover story years before. How did that new technology they had adopted eventually work out? Did their innovative marketing system weather the long-term twists and turns of the economy? What new ideas were they trying out these days? “No way,” said my boss, a former Wall Street Journal reporter who at that time had yet to realize I was the worse hire she had ever made. “Haven’t you ever heard of the cover curse?” (more…)

The efforts to create fair and consistent rules for responsible Great Lakes water use has continued on since Minnesota ratified the Great Lakes Compact in February.  Here’s a quick status update from the other seven Great Lakes states:

(more…)

Today’s topics: Agriculture, Development, Energy, Mining, Natural Areas, Non-Native Species and Water.
(more…)

Today’s topics: 3M Chemicals, Agriculture, Development, Energy, Food, Great Lakes, Natural Areas, Prairie, Water and Wildlife.
(more…)

The LCCMR was back at the capital last week, focusing on wrapping up a few items before the committee breaks until September when they begin reviewing RFPs submitted for 2008 funding. And it didn’t take long for the stir surrounding mining rights on DNR lands that have received funding under the state’s Forest Legacy Act to kick up some dust. (more…)

by Ken Bradley, senior policy associate, Fresh Energy

On June 15, the first ever World Clean Energy Awards were presented at a ceremony in Basel, Switzerland. The Intertribal Council on Utility Policy (COUP) received the “Special Award for Courage” for their work establishing the first commercial wind power generation on a reservation in Rosebud, South Dakota. Patrick Spears, president of COUP and Fresh Energy board member, accepted the award, saying, “We are honored and humbled for the selection by such a distinguished juried panel of people who are knowledgeable in their field for sustainable development.” (more…)

Today’s topics: Member News, 3M Chemicals, Agriculture, Development, Energy, Food, Music, Natural Areas, Non-Native Invasive Species, Superfund, Transportation, Water and Wildlife.
(more…)

Air Pollution in Cars Can Be Up to 10 Times Higher Than Outside Air
Bad air quality can cause breathing difficulties and eye and throat irritations even in healthy people. How can we have fewer bad air quality days? 

Numerous studies have shown that pollution within vehicles can be 10 times higher than the outdoor air, and concentrations can be particularly high when vehicles are trapped in congestion or traveling slowly. What can Twin Cities residents do to fight the smog?

1) Take transit. Motor vehicle emissions are the primary cause of air pollution in the Twin Cities. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has calculated that nearly 60 percent of the pollution responsible for adverse health effects is from motor vehicles. Taking the bus or the light rail reduces the number of vehicles on the road and reduces the emissions contributing to bad air quality. Taking transit helps you fight congested roads and bad air quality at the same time!

2) Walk or ride a bicycle. Up to half the pollution inside your car comes from the vehicle directly in front of you. Luckily, walking or riding a bicycle doesn’t create any air pollution. If you walk or ride a bike on bad air quality days, though, it’s best to avoid high traffic areas, and consider leaving earlier in the morning. 

3) Combine trips. Cold starts and short trips are the worst offenders when it comes to pollution. Instead of running errands at different times, combine your errands into one trip. Remember to shut the engine off, even for short stops – one minute of idling uses more fuel than re-starting your engine. Again, on high pollution alert days, try to avoid driving altogether.  

4) Carpool. If you have to drive, try carpooling. Keep your car well-tuned—a well-maintained car runs better and pollutes less. Drive at moderate speeds and check your tires regularly. Refuel your car after sundown when air pollution levels are lower and gasoline vapors won’t add to the problem.

5. Already do all of these activities? Don’t run that lawnmower, start up the grill, or use lawn chemicals. These are also activities that can compromise our air quality.