Tag: Minnesota

February 20, 2024

The U.S. Department of Energy’s latest National Transmission Needs study, released in October, says the United States needs about 47,000 GW-miles of new high-voltage transmission capacity by 2035 under a moderate load-growth, high clean-energy scenario. That represents a 57% increase […]

January 5, 2024

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MdDOT) recently awarded $17.4 million to eight construction projects in the Twin Cities Metro and Greater Minnesota to improve transportation infrastructure. Funding is through the state’s Transportation Economic Development and Transportation Economic Development Infrastructure programs […]

December 12, 2023

A new Rogers, Mn. plastic film recycling facility plans to recycle up to 90 million pounds of plastic wrap and plastic film products yearly. The facility opened in August with only one of its two production lines open. Over the […]

June 15, 2023

The consulting and services firm Mission Critical Partners announced Thursday it was recently awarded a contract with Minnesota’s technology and emergency communications agencies to develop a new statewide strategy for the state’s deployment of next-generation 911. The firm is tasked […]

May 25, 2023

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz signed a dozen government spending bills into law on Wednesday, setting funding for the next two years. In total, the bills provide more than $500 million for technology initiatives across state government — with $130 million […]

May 5, 2023

The NextGen Highways approach aims to utilize existing infrastructure ROWs to speed development of a more modern electric grid. A draft U.S. Department of Energy report in March estimated the United States could need about 47,300 GW-miles of new transmission […]

April 27, 2023

Minnesota schools are continuing to make commitments to menu planning and using programs to help reduce the amount of food waste in its cafeterias. The Offer vs Serve program allows students to build a meal and take what they will […]

February 7, 2023

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, D, is expected to soon sign a bill requiring utilities in the state to provide electricity from 100% carbon-free sources by 2040. The bill also calls for utilities to generate at least 55% of their electricity […]

February 3, 2023

Minnesota utilities would be obligated to transition to 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040 to step up the fight against climate change under a bill speeding through the Legislature. The bill was slated for a final vote on the Senate floor […]

November 14, 2022

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission approved Minnesota Power’s 15-year Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), which includes retiring the company’s remaining coal-fired plant. According to the plan, Boswell Energy Center Unit 3 would be retired by the end of 2029, with Unit […]

November 1, 2022

Spectro Alloys, the leading Midwest-based recycler of aluminum, celebrated the opening of its state-of-the-art distribution center today with employees, customers and local officials. The $6-million project completed this fall provides a new face to the facility and is part of […]

September 19, 2022

Regulators in Minnesota approved Xcel Energy’s Sherco Solar Project, a 460 MW plant that would be among the largest solar facilities in the upper Midwest. The Public Utilities Commission earlier had approved the site permit for the two-parcel facility in […]

August 25, 2022

The Minnesota Department of Transportation announced Tuesday it had secured a $3.4 million federal grant for six electric buses. The new buses, MnDOT said, will replace six conventional gas-powered buses in rural transit systems in that state, including two buses […]

March 19, 2021

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) announced findings on Thursday that show 59 closed landfills are contaminating groundwater in the state. Fifteen of those landfills had PFAS readings of more than 10 times the state acceptable level. The Gofer Landfill […]

February 25, 2021

Minnesota is one of the top organic farm waste generators in the U.S., ranking first in turkey production, second in hog production, and sixth in both red meat and dairy production, and it’s looking hard at ways to both divert […]

October 22, 2020

Minnesota’s metro counties have a state diversion goal of 75% by 2030, and Hennepin County has two innovative programs to get residents on board to help reach that mark. Both programs are under the umbrella of the “Zero Waste Challenge,” […]

August 17, 2020

As the coronavirus began to spread through Minneapolis this spring, Health Commissioner Gretchen Musicant tore up her budget to find funds to combat the crisis. Money for test kits. Money to administer tests. Money to hire contact tracers. Yet even […]

December 24, 2019

Minnesota Power officials say they are still reviewing the court’s decision, but expect the Wisconsin review to “adequately address any environmental concerns and the steps we are taking to mitigate any environmental impact.” “We are disappointed in this unprecedented decision […]

September 26, 2019

Spurring the electric vehicle market has become a growing priority for state and local leaders looking to cut transportation emissions, and utilities have an increased interest in growing EV markets as they look to diversify their loads. The Department of […]

May 29, 2019

The omnibus appropriations bill, which includes $150,000 for the Commerce Department “to conduct an energy storage systems cost-benefit analysis,” will yield much-needed insight into how batteries can bring value to Minnesota’s electrical grid, storage advocates said as they praised its […]