BENTONVILLE, Ark., May 7, 2007 – Today Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE:WMT), announced a major purchase of solar power from three solar power providers, BP Solar, SunEdison LLC, and PowerLight, a subsidiary of SunPower Corporation, for 22 combined Wal-Mart stores, Sam’s Clubs and a distribution center in Hawaii and California.  As part…[more]

This week, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources filed a lawsuit in the Jefferson County Circuit Court against Central Jefferson County Utilities Inc. and Raintree Plantation Inc. for violations of the Missouri Clean Water Law.

Central Jefferson County Utilities Inc. owns and operates an extended aeration wastewater treatment facility that serves the Raintree Plantation Subdivision in Hillsboro in Jefferson County.

The treatment facility was designed to…[more]

ST. LOUIS, MO, MAY 2, 2007—Missouri Department of Natural Resources Director Doyle Childers today offered Ameren a second settlement agreement for the damages from the Dec. 14, 2005, Taum Sauk reservoir breach.

The second proposed settlement, which includes the claims of the departments of Natural Resources and Conservation, totals $115 million plus the property rights to the Rock Island Railroad right-of-way and Church Mountain. These numbers are based…[more]

Anglers on both sides of Bagnell Dam can expect better fishing in the future, thanks to new requirements written into the 40-year hydroelectric plant operating license issued to Ameren-UE in March. The Missouri Department of Conservation was instrumental in developing provisions to benefit landowners, fish and wildlife. The new license also will boost…[more]

DeWITT, Mo.-Patrick Jenkins knows what it is like to farm flood-prone land. He also knows how much more profitable it can be to trade chronically wet acreage for higher ground, and he understands that some crops cannot be measured in bushels per acre.

Jenkins’ farming roots run deep into Missouri history. His forebears settled near the Grand River in 1842. From his hunting cabin, he can see the…[more]

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The fate of ocean fish larvae has remained a mystery to science until now, but a University of Arkansas researcher and his colleagues have used a novel technique to directly explore their journey from egg to adult for the first time. Their findings, which also may help governments and marine…[more]

Take advantage of this unique opportunity to get an up-close look at the ruby-throated hummingbird. You will have four opportunities this summer to join researcher Lanny Chambers at Onondaga Cave State Park near Leasburg as he captures and studies these fascinating little flying machines. On May 5, July 7, Aug. 4 and Sept. 1,…[more]

The last week in March was the warmest in Missouri since record-keeping began 118 years ago. The first week in April was the coldest on record. Caught off guard by the yo-yo weather, some wild plants and animals suffered serious setbacks, but nature experts say the effects will be small and temporary.

Pat Guinan, a climatologist with the University of Missouri, said temperatures across Missouri were 14 to…[more]

The Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA) along with the University of Missouri, Columbia have partnered in a 12-state collaborative effort in leading the way for renewable energy, rural development and providing opportunities for Missouri’s producers. The newly formed effort, the North Central Bioeconomy Consortium, is comprised of directors of Departments of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Services and University Agricultural Experiment Stations from Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North…[more]

Poll results released today show American voters are concerned about the consequences of forest loss and support Federal action and conservation programs to help keep privately-owned forest lands intact for future generations.

The newly-launched Forests in the Farm Bill Coalition, the poll sponsor, urges Congress to take immediate action through the Farm Bill to protect forest lands and the significant economic and environmental benefits forests provide. 

…[more]