South Dakota clashes with Minnesota on clean energy, coal plant closures
As gas and electric companies transition away from fossil fuels, South Dakota officials stress reliability of resources in extreme weather.
Environment
Sioux Falls growth forces question: Can Smithfield and Big Sioux River co-exist?
The pork slaughterhouse has a new treatment plant to reduce the amount of toxic waste it dumps in the river. Developers and environmentalists want more progress.
Solar surge: South Dakota sees new interest in solar power
Fossil fuels will still play a role: 'On a cold winter morning when it's cloudy and there’s no wind, we’ll still be keeping our members warm with natural gas and coal and diesel.'
$8.3B in crop insurance payouts to South Dakota farmers: A cost of climate change
Nearly 65% of federal crop insurance premiums are subsidized with federal funding.
Special report: Proposed CO2 pipelines thrust South Dakota into billion-dollar debate over carbon capture technology and climate change
Editor’s note: This article was produced through a partnership between South Dakota News Watch and the Solutions Journalism Network, a national non-profit group that supports rigorous journalism about responses to problems. This is Part 1 of a two-part series; Part 2 publishes May 10, 2022.
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Concerns arise over merger of SD agricultural and environmental agencies
PIERRE, S.D. – Some South Dakota farmers, ranchers and environmental advocates are concerned about Gov. Kristi Noem’s plan to combine the state Department of Agriculture and Department of Environment and Natural Resources into a single agency and are wondering what the new agency could mean for the state’s
Ethanol industry and corn growers in SD facing economic ‘bloodbath’ due to COVID-19
The ethanol industry in South Dakota and across the Midwest is in an economic free-fall due to decreased global demand for ethanol-infused gasoline during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fear of spreading the deadly virus has led governments around the world to cancel gatherings and urge or require people to stay home,