skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Wednesday, January 15, 2025

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Hegseth could lead troops who'd face getting fired for actions he's done in the past; Strong Santa Ana winds return for SoCal; Southeast Asian refugees in MA fear deportation, seek Biden pardon; RSV rise puts Indiana hospitals on alert; CT lawmakers urged to focus on LGBTQ+ legislation.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

The Special Counsel's report says Donald Trump would have been convicted for election interference. Defense Secretary pick Pete Hegseth faces harsh questioning from Senate Democrats, and law enforcement will be increased for next week's inauguration.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

"Drill, baby, drill" is a tough sell for oil and gas companies in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, rising sea levels create struggles for Washington's coastal communities, and more folks than ever are taking advantage of America's great outdoors.

MN landowners warming up to solar

play audio
Play

Wednesday, January 31, 2024   

Drive around rural Minnesota and you might spot a solar farm. Complexities are being sorted out for bigger projects and in the meantime, farmers are adding solar arrays to fit their needs.

Clean energy advocates said solar is one of the many sources Minnesota needs to rely upon to meet its climate goals. The push continues to develop more utility-scale projects but opening up needed space on the power grid remains a challenge.

Larry Lahr, a central Minnesota farmer and landowner, has a handful of one-megawatt solar installations lined up next to each other. He leases a section of his land to a third party, which sells the electricity generated.

"Getting into an arrangement like that, [you] see the benefits in terms of having a revenue stream that was certainly significant," Lahr pointed out. "It diversified the rest of our farm income."

He noted it likely will make it easier to transition the property to future generations of his family. Larh added the power goes through a local substation, eliminating the need for new grid space.

Advocates acknowledged there's still conflict, including claims these projects gobble up prime farmland. However, the Clean Grid Alliance said the current amount of solar in the queue represents less than 1% of Minnesota's 17 million acres of soil-rich farmland.

Lahr acknowledged when people think of solar farms, they might picture endless rows of panels dominating the landscape. He countered the project on his property blends in with the surroundings.

"In this case, the site is tucked up against some woods," Lahr emphasized. "It's not a large-scale project like I think a lot of people feared when they were first expressing their opposition to our project."

Advocates said local opposition should not deter landowners from considering large projects if they have visions of bigger profits. Other solar supporters said if a farm added panels, it still can be a dual-use site with room for crops and livestock. Some Minnesota counties have pursued restrictions for such projects and Lahr admitted it will take more time to convince skeptics about the benefits.

Disclosure: Clean Energy Economy Minnesota and the Clean Grid Alliance Coalition contributes to our fund for reporting on Climate Change/Air Quality, Energy Policy, and the Environment. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


get more stories like this via email
more stories
Wisconsin is one of nine states where voters are required to present photo identification to vote. The current state law has been in place since 2011. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

A proposal to make Wisconsin's strict Voter ID law a constitutional amendment passed Wisconsin's Republican-controlled Assembly on Tuesday. Voters …


Social Issues

play sound

In Mississippi, where thousands of people are serving life sentences, the impact of long-term imprisonment falls disproportionately on Black …

Social Issues

play sound

One topic expected to make a big splash during Wyoming's general legislative session is property taxes at many levels. First on the agenda for the …


Feral hogs breed year-round and can have up to 12 piglets per litter, making population control difficult. (byrdyak/Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

The last Farm Bill allocated $75 million to reduce feral hog populations around the country but this year, funding has expired, which could be a …

Social Issues

play sound

In this year's state budget, Gov. Brian Kemp is proposing a $500 million investment to tackle a critical issue for Savannah and surrounding areas - …

Volunteer Hector Silva of Hunger Action Los Angeles prepares burritos for distribution to fire victims in Pasadena, Calif. (Sara Donis)

Social Issues

play sound

Food donations are pouring in to help victims of the Los Angeles fires, to the point donors are being asked to hold off a bit so it can all be …

Environment

play sound

By Jessica Scott-Reid for Sentient.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Coll…

Social Issues

play sound

In 2019, Colorado lawmakers set goals for cutting climate pollution by at least half by the year 2030, and by 90% by 2050 - compared with 2005 levels…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021