News & Insights

There is no safe level of lead consumption. But lead water service lines remain a persistent problem in Minnesota. Our own James Lehner spoke at the House and Senate Capital Investment Committees on the importance of this funding.

We know renewable energy sources are not just cleaner but cheaper because our neighbors are seeing it reflected in their energy bills. The states in our region that are using the most wind and solar are the ones with the lowest electricity rates. Minnesota is on our way there as well. Today, more than half of our electricity comes from clean sources. 

In December, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) submitted its report to the Minnesota legislature describing how it will implement the new Community Grants Program.  

The DNR will offer two types of Community Grants: a Standard Community Grant for larger, more complex projects, and an Expedited Community Grant for projects already in development that can be completed within one year. 

On Wednesday, January 21, the US House of Representatives passed Minnesota Eighth District Congressman Pete Stauber's resolution to overturn the federal 20-year ban on mining in the Boundary Waters watershed.

Communities across Minnesota are finding innovative ways to protect the environment and solve complex conservation problems. The Blazing Star Award celebrates these actions. Is your local government doing something worthy of recognition? Apply for the 2026 Blazing Star Award.

Helping to push a stranger’s car out of the snow. Shoveling beyond your own driveway. Checking on your neighbors when the coldest weather hits. Winters in Minnesota tend to bring out the best in us. They remind us that Minnesota is a community. 

Our staff book club features books that foster thoughtful discussion about the natural world and our role in it. Take a look at what we read this year (including Minnesota author Kao Kalia Yang’s Where Rivers Part), and let us know if you have ideas for what we should read in 2026!

When progress feels slow, it helps to see how far we’ve come—together. We review recent game-changing wins and imagine a future that builds on the momentum. We're looking forward to working in the next year on safe tap water, clean air, and smarter waste and recycling.

Each year, The Food Group, along with their partners, plan and host the Emerging Farmers Conference. The conference helps to connect immigrant farmers and farmers of color to resources, educational opportunities, and to foster a community of growth and knowledge. This year marked the 20th anniversary of the conference, and we were excited for the opportunity to be a sponsor for the first time. 

Last session, Conservation Minnesota helped shape and pass bipartisan data center legislation in Minnesota that set guardrails to protect both our environment and consumers.