Archive
Are smoky summers the new normal?
Last July and August, you may remember a stretch of hazy days, red sunsets, and warnings about poor air quality. Summer it seems, has a new regular companion: wildfire smoke. If it seems like the number of…
Meet the Clean Air Minnesota co-chairs
Meet the co-chairs of Clean Air Minnesota, Jon Hunter and Tony Kwilas. The two have worked on air quality throughout their careers. As chairs, they advise the work pursued by Clean Air Minnesota to reduce air pollutants.
What is the air quality index and why does it matter?
Learn how to use the Air Quality Index to make informed decisions about the air you breathe.
Our role in helping reduce air emissions
An overview of some of the air work convened by Environmental Initiative. These programs help reduce pollutants through numerous avenues, including helping small businesses secure funding to replace sources of emissions with cleaner alternatives and educating groups on air quality standards and sources of pollution.
Moving towards a circular economy
As more waste continues to be generated using limited natural resources, companies are working to break this linear waste stream and keep materials in use after a product’s lifespan by advancing a circular economy.
Minnesota’s electrification efforts expand
Minnesota is in the process of transitioning to technology that relies on electricity instead of fossil fuels, or electrification. While progress has been made, the transition is still in the early stages and challenges remain around how to do this in a way that will not put too much pressure on communities and the electric grid.
Auto body shops reduce pollutants
Two auto body businesses in Ramsey County, Minn., reduce pollutants including volatile organic compounds with financial and technical support provided through the Clean Air Assistance Project.
Clean Air Minnesota participates in EPA program
The Clean Air Minnesota partnership is now participating in the Advance Program offered through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Participation in the program is designed to provide tools and resources needed to improve air quality and public health outcomes.
Markets needed to support on-farm conservation efforts
Attendees ventured to St. Cloud, Minn. for the Headwater’s Agriculture Sustainability Partnership’s (HASP) Profit Through Conservation forum to discuss ways to financially support farmers implementing conservation practices. A key barrier to adopting these practices – which can improve water quality, soil health, and sequester carbon in the ground – is a clear economic incentive for farmers.
New research reinforces need for emissions reductions, Clean Air Minnesota
Over the past several weeks, new research has added to growing bodies of evidence demonstrating the catastrophic consequences of air pollution and inequitable distribution of impacts along racial and socioeconomic lines. Each time studies like these are published,…
