Happening

Conservation Minnesota was honored to receive the “Friend of the CGMC” award from the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities (CGMC) alongside our partners IUOE, Local 49, and LIUNA Minnesota & North Dakota on Thursday, July 28th. Once again this legislative session, we worked with a diverse set of stakeholders, including our union allies and community leaders, to advocate for Greater Minnesota to work toward funding for water and wastewater infrastructure. 

In Minnesota, breweries are at the heart of many communities. But as climate change continues to impact agriculture, local brewers and growers are starting to get concerned. Stone Hill Farm hop grower Jon Brach discusses the impact of extreme weather on his crops.

Before adjourning in late May, state legislators could not agree on a capital investment bill or finalize several funding packages known as omnibus bills. This year, unfinished legislation meant leaving billions of dollars of federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding on the table. Without matching funds from the state legislature, Minnesota will lose out on many of these investments.

On June 14th, over 70 people braved the 105-degree heat index to help clean up the Mississippi River at Boom Island Park in Minneapolis. Conservation Minnesota, in partnership with United By Blue, Target, and Friends of the Mississippi River, spent two hours combing the river banks, neighborhoods, trails, and grassy fields for small plastics.

Today's Supreme Court ruling in the case of West Virginia vs. Environmental Protection Agency undermines our collective expectation that we all deserve clean air to breathe, and that our leaders will do everything in their power to prevent the worst impacts of climate change.

Solutions to address climate change are important and urgent. Every news cycle brings a new report warning of the consequences of inaction. But there is excellent news in Minnesota. We’ve come so far, and continued clean energy progress means a bright future for Minnesota.

The science on climate change is clear: we must electrify as much as we can while making sure the electricity running through our grid is clean and reliable. As Minnesota’s electrification speeds up, communities will see the economic and job benefits of our energy transition.

For Juneteenth, our team decided to share our favorite Black-owned businesses from around the state. By showing your support, you strengthen local economies, help close the racial wealth gap, and celebrate the contributions of local Black businesses. 

Happy Pride Month! Conservation Minnesota is proud to stand by our LGBTQIA+ staff, members, friends, family, and partners. It’s important to us that Minnesota is a welcoming place for all people no matter where you’re from or how you identify. Pride is a time to acknowledge our differences, celebrate self, and show the world that love brings people together.  

Conservation Minnesota designed Conservation Crew to encourage middle schoolers to think critically about our environment. Each Conservation Crew—made up of five to 25 student and supported by a teacher or school staff—selects their focus and service project. Our Youth Program Coordinator reports on the first year of Conservation Crew.