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.

April means it’s spring, and Earth Month, and coincidentally my birthday on Earth Day itself (April 22). I’m celebrating by hitting the road across Minnesota, speaking at great events in great places. Join me for practical information and inspiration if you live in any of the following areas!

The U.S. EPA proposed the first-ever federal limit on carbon pollution on March 27. What could it mean for the nation’s aging coal plants?

World Savvy prepares the next generation of leaders to learn, work, and thrive as responsible global citizens in the 21st century. In just 10 years, World Savvy has reached 250,000 young people and 2,000 teachers across the nation.

3.14.12 // Robert Kaplan, regional counsel for the EPA Region 5, will present the keynote address at William Mitchell’s Third Annual Energy and Environment Conference.

Did you know that Minnesota still gets almost 60 percent of its electricity from burning coal, and some utilities even get 90 percent or more of their electricity from coal? If you’re an Xcel customer, you have a chance to urge the company to steer a cleaner course for our kids and grandkids.

The air quality in some of our most beautiful spaces is threatened by pollution from Minnesota’s coal-fired power plants and taconite iron ore processing facilities. And even though the Clean Air Act requires it, the parks may soon lack protection under Minnesota law.

The United States has a pollution problem. Nearly 37 million American children live in places with unhealthy, polluted air. Pollution-related illnesses are on the rise. Smokestacks continue to dump massive quantities of pollutants that cause disease and death.

We applaud Senator Amy Klobuchar’s February 9 floor speech that championed clean energy and smart policy. Now it’s your turn.

On February 9, Senator Amy Klobuchar (D – Minnesota) addressed one of her top priorities in a speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate, “…the critical need to get serious about building a new energy agenda for America, one that keeps our businesses competitive in the global economy, preserves our environment and restarts the engine that has always kept our country moving forward, that is innovation.”