Today’s topics: Birds, Development, Education, Energy, Funding, Great Lakes, Non-Native Invasive Species, Review, State Park, and Water.

(more…)

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

by Ken Bradley, Senior Policy Associate, Fresh Energy

Who Killed the Electric Car? was a popular 2006 documentary that followed the demise of the sleek General Motors EV-1, an electric car. The vehicles were available only for lease through EV Rentals (at several Budget Rent-a-Car locations). General Motors took them off the road in 2002. (more…)

Given recent events that have befallen the state – the 35W bridge collapse and outstate flooding – it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that funding for the next year is going to be tight. Really tight. (more…)

Today’s topics: Agriculture, Development, Energy, Fish, Off-Highway Vehicles, Transportation, Waste, Water and Wetlands.
(more…)

by Erin Stojan, Program Coordinator, Fresh Energy

The beginning of fall semester presents the perfect opportunity to assess the top green colleges and universities nationally, and environmental news/analysis site Grist.org has done exactly that. Though St. Olaf (an ELCA Lutheran college located in Northfield, about 35 miles south of the Twin Cities) wasn’t one of the 15 top green colleges and universities as determined by Grist, it did fall in the “runner up” list, and is the only Minnesota higher education institution anywhere on the list. Among the Ole’s green attributes cited by Grist: an entire year dedicated to sustainability in lectures, classrooms, and campus tours; its integration of faith-based creation care into its sustainability work; and the creation of a black, green, and gold website to track its progress toward campus sustainability.

Congratulations, St. Olaf!

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

Transit for Livable Communities is disappointed that Governor Pawlenty chose to hold a special session without addressing transportation. Yet again, we’re left waiting for the 21st century transportation system that Minnesotans want and deserve. What does this decision mean for transit?

It means that a comprehensive transportation funding bill will have to wait until at least February 12, 2007, which is the starting date for the 2008 legislative session. It is very likely that there will be a motion to reconsider the transportation bill that was vetoed by Governor Pawlenty during the 2007 legislative session.

Transit supporters are disappointed that transit investment will have to wait, but we are pleased about two recent victories: 1) The new 35W bridge will be ready for future light rail transit lines, and 2) Transit supporters prevented serious attempts to create a pre-special session agreement that would raise the gas tax (which is constitutionally dedicated to funding roads and bridges) without a corresponding increase in transit funding.

Here are a couple of items various readers may be interested in:

• Wisconsin has had a working group trying to find common ground in implementing the Great Lakes Compact.  That group has gone bust.
• James Rowen, who blogs from Milwaukee, has an opinion piece in Madison raising attention on a potential expansion of an oil refinery just across the harbor from Duluth. 
• Maria Energia has a Q & A with Al Franken in his bid for Senate.  This is in no way an endorsement, just an FYI.

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