*Note to access press releases prior to Sept. 2018 please click here.
28 Community Organizations Reject Minnesota Department of Transportation’s “Rethinking I-94” Planning Process
October 27, 2021
28 Minneapolis and Saint Paul community organizations released a letter to the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) today regarding its Rethinking I-94 project. The letter faults MnDOT’s environmental review process, required by the...
Unprofitable Coal Creek Sale Will Cost Minnesotans Millions
July 30, 2021
Great Rivers Energy (GRE) was successful in its sale of the Coal Creek power plant to Rainbow Energy in a process that lacked transparency and engagement. Sierra Club and allies have raised concerns about the financial harm this decision would have...
Minnesota Is Officially The First Clean Car State in the Midwest
July 26, 2021
Today, Governor Walz announced that Minnesota’s clean car standards have been filed in the state register, marking the end of the rulemaking process and making Minnesota the 15th clean car state in the nation, in addition to the District of Columbia...
Clean Water Organizations Launch “Move on from PolyMet” Petition Campaign
July 19, 2021
The Sierra Club North Star Chapter is proud to join our partners at the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy and Duluth for Clean Water in a new campaign calling on Governor Walz to “Move on from PolyMet.” With the 2018 PolyMet Permit to Mine...
Opaque Coal Creek Sale May Leave Minnesotans Stuck With More Expensive Coal
June 30, 2021
Earlier today, Great River Energy (GRE) announced that the utility would be selling its Coal Creek Station power plant to Rainbow Energy Center instead of retiring it as planned. Sierra Club had previously praised GRE for its plans to close Coal...
Court of Appeals Upholds PUC’s Illegal Permits for Enbridge’s Line 3 Pipeline
June 14, 2021
Today, the Minnesota Court of Appeals announced it will uphold the Public Utilities Commission’s 2020 approval of Enbridge’s Line 3 pipeline. The Red Lake, White Earth, and Mille Lacs Bands, the Minnesota Department of Commerce, Honor the Earth, the...
Mounting Costs Call Into Question The Wisdom Of Keeping Coal Creek Open
May 27, 2021
Yesterday, the Sierra Club, Clean Up the River Environment (CURE), Dakota Resource Council, and North Dakota Native Vote submitted a report to the Environmental Protection Agency explaining that the cost of bringing Coal Creek into compliance with...
Statement on endorsement of Kate Knuth for Mayor
May 21, 2021
Today, the Sierra Club North Star Chapter announced its endorsement in the City of Minneapolis Mayoral race in a statement by Michelle Hesterberg, Co-Chair of the chapter’s Minneapolis Political Committee.
Fight continues to stop Wisconsin fracked gas power plant despite Minnesota Supreme Court decision
April 22, 2021
The Minnesota Supreme Court Wednesday issued a decision that allows a proposed fracked gas power plant to receive Public Utilities Commission (PUC) approval without environmental review in Minnesota. The decision returns the case to the Court of...
Sierra Club Statement on the Guilty Verdict in Derek Chauvin Trial
April 21, 2021
Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune and Kamau Wilkins, Chair of the Sierra Club’s Minnesota North Star Chapter, issued a statement following the announcement that Derek Chauvin, the former police officer who murdered George Floyd, has been...