The Minnesota legislature has passed and the Governor has signed HF 1752/SF1463, an approximately $500 million bonding bill that included an option for public buildings to utilize solar energy.
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WalkScore just ranked Minneapolis as the nation's top bike-friendly city. Take that, Portland.
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Clean Energy
Minnesota Department of Commerce recommends shutting down and replacing Minnesota Power’s oldest coal plants
This week, the Minnesota Department of Commerce filed official comments at the Public Utilities Commission that said Minnesota Power should shut down five of its coal plants.
View Full StoryThis week’s Midwest Energy News: Coal, coal, and more coal
News about the future of coal plants showed up multiple times in the week’s energy headlines.
View Full StoryEnergy Efficiency
Solving the split incentive in rental unit efficiency
How do you improve the energy efficiency of apartments and other rental units when renters don’t own the property or appliances and landlords don’t see the benefits in their pocketbooks from improvement because they don’t pay the utility bills? It’s a much-debated conundrum that even has a name: the “split incentive” problem.
View Full StoryColorado, Illinois make it easy to find energy-efficient homes
Shopping for a home that’s energy efficient isn’t always easy. While hardwood floors, two-car garages, and swimming pools are typical searchable attributes, energy efficiency data and green building certifications are not so easily found.
View Full Story“If the house which he built fall in and kill its owner”: building codes, Babylonian-style
After reading this month’s Powering Progress and discovering how essential building codes are to a modern community’s safety and energy efficiency, you’re undoubtedly wondering, Whence came building codes?
View Full StoryGlobal Warming
Earth Tuesday: The results are in!
On April 24, we launched Earth Tuesday, our first-ever 24-hour fundraising event. And the results are finally in.
View Full StoryThank you, State Farm, for doing the right thing
If you’ve been tracking energy and climate news on Twitter, you’re no doubt aware of the Heartland Institute’s major PR debacle last week.
View Full StoryThis week’s Midwest Energy News: What does global warming have to do with Charles Manson?
This week’s stories covered everything from energy codes to LEDs to a group’s comparison of so-called “global warming alarmists” to Charles Manson and the Unabomber.
View Full StoryTransportation & Land Use
Minneapolis rides away with more biking accolades
To those of us who live here, it’s not news that Minneapolis is a great place for biking. Strong community support and smart transportation policies have led to a two-wheeled boom all over Minnesota.
View Full StorySouthwest Light Rail funding caught in final Capitol negotiations
The clock is ticking on the 2012 Minnesota Legislative session, and it’s down to the big issues of bonding, Vikings, and business taxes.
View Full StoryTransportation, evolving
The automobile has long been an inextricable aspect of American culture, symbolizing freedom and autonomy. Increasingly, more and more of us are seeking transportation options. As our communities, markets, and priorities change, will the country’s transportation system keep up?
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