Environment & Energy

Microbeads are plastic particles less than five millimeters in size. When used in personal care products like facial scrubs, soaps and toothpaste, the tiny microbeads head straight for our water ...
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Flame retardants, many of which are carcinogenic, are found in upholstered furniture and children’s products, but recent research shows they are ineffective and are no longer required by state regulators ...
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Legislation surrounding dangerous chemicals used in children’s products would appropriate almost $1.4 million to increase available information, enhance consumer awareness, and give product manufacturers incentives to reduce problem chemicals in ...
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Comprised of recommendations from a stakeholder group led by the Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), this bill is a package of ...
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Governor Dayton’s bill to require at least 50 feet of vegetation around the state’s waterways was introduced late in session, but continues through the committee process. Water management experts and ...
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The Omnibus Game and Fish bill addresses multiple game, fish, and natural resource management needs proposed by the Department of Natural Resources, and includes several initiatives, including: Minnesota Veterans home ...
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A bill modifying provisions related to electronic waste management seeks to improve the state’s electronic waste recycling efforts, especially in regards to video display devices (VDD). The bill seeks to ...
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This legislation modifies a law passed in 2012 that requires those who haul boats or boat-docking equipment to undergo a 30-minute online training course about preventing the spread of aquatic ...
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Increasing Minnesota’s renewable energy standard (RES) goals would diversify the state’s energy sources and boost the economy.  Legislators are considering a proposal to gradually raise the RES to 40% by ...
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Energy efficiency is the cheapest and cleanest route to fulfilling energy needs.  Energy efficiency advocates point out that Minnesota’s current 1.5% yearly energy savings goal for utilities is already is ...
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Much of the remaining work of the session will be focused on setting the biennial budgets for the major environment and energy agencies: the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, the Department ...
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