Updates and Articles

House advances $8.93 million omnibus environment policy & finance bill

by Trevor Russell

April 18, 2016

Late last week, the House Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee voted to approve its omnibus environment & natural resources policy and finance bill. While the bill includes a number of provisions requested by state agencies, it failed to include FMR's top legislative priority for the 2016 session: The Working Lands Watershed Restoration Program.

Senate environment committee unanimously advances $7.5 million environment bill

by Trevor Russell

April 18, 2016

Late last week, the Minnesota Senate Environment and Energy Finance Budget Division unanimously passed the Omnibus Environment & Energy Finance bill. The bill includes a number of environmental provisions, including FMR's top legislative priority for the 2016 session: The Working Lands Watershed Restoration Program.

Harnessing fire as a conservation tool

by Alex Roth

April 11, 2016

Fire was once commonplace on the American landscape. After nearly a century of suppression, it’s making a comeback. Find out why fires are on the rise, and how FMR uses fire as a tool to restore habitat on many of our restoration sites.

The mighty call of the... timberdoodle?!

by Karen Schik

April 7, 2016

Nothing says spring like the fabulous courtship display of this odd "shorebird"!

Great news from Iowa on the promise of cellulosic biofuels

by Trevor Russell

March 24, 2016

On the heels of encouraging progress on our perennial biofuels bill, more great news has come forward on the promise of cellulosic biofuels

With bipartisan support, perennial biofuels bills advance

by Trevor Russell

March 22, 2016

One of FMR's top legislative priorities for the 2016 session earned unanimous bipartisan support in House and Senate committees today.

Unusual bill aims to mandate 5 new coal plants on Sherco site

by Trevor Russell

March 18, 2016

In one of the more unusual pieces of legislation to come forward this session, a new bill (HF 3256) would require an as-of-yet unnamed public utility to build no fewer than five brand-new coal-fired power plants at the Sherburne County Generating Station.

Legislative attempt to rollback buffer law passes first hearing

by Trevor Russell

March 17, 2016

As anticipated, buffers are back in the news as House Republicans are teaming up with a minority of rural Senate DFLers to rollback the buffer law. A pair of bills, authored by representative Torkelson (R) and Senator Skoe (DFL) have been introduced. Senator Skoe's bill has already passed the Senate agriculture committee despite opposition from Senate DFLers on the committee.

Perennial biofuels incentive program bills introduced

by Trevor Russell

March 16, 2016

The legislature has introduced bills in both chambers to advance one of FMR's 2016 policy priorities: a perennial biofuels incentive program. Dubbed the "Working Lands Watershed Restoration Program," the bills ask for $479,000 in fiscal year 2017 for the state's Board of Water and Soil Resources to prepare a plan for creating a state-funded biofuels incentive program.

FMR restoration efforts emphasize pollinator health

by Alex Roth

March 7, 2016

Pollinators have had a rough go of things lately, with habitat loss and overabundant pesticide use leading to declines in many bee and butterfly species. However, it’s not all doom and gloom. These declines have sparked a renewed interest in pollinators, leading to new initiatives and funding for the conservation of these species. Find out what FMR and others are doing to protect pollinators in Minnesota.