Walk through a store or schools, and there's a chance the overhead lighting will come from long fluorescent tubes. Minnesota is taking steps to phase out those bulbs that experts say are harmful to the environment and human health.
In the spring legislative session, Minnesota became the latest state to ban the sale of fluorescent bulbs starting in 2025. The end date for more specialized bulbs is January 2026. Supporters of the ban say people already have a lot of safer LED options at their fingertips.
Eric Fowler, senior policy associate of buildings with Fresh Energy, said remaining fluorescent products still on the market pose hidden dangers.
"We're going to keep the market moving in the direction it's already going and transition away from these lights that, at this point, are unnecessarily hazardous, fragile glass tubes with toxic mercury," he explained.
Legislative researchers say despite recycling requirements for fluorescent products, they still end up accidentally broken or thrown away. That exposes custodial staff, waste workers and others to mercury, a well-known toxin that's especially harmful to pregnant people and children. Backers say the law change, passed with bipartisan support, also paves the way for more energy efficiency.
Josh McClenney, state policy associate for the Appliance Standards Awareness Project, has been tracking the passage of these laws around the country. He said while the LED bulb might be a more expensive purchase, businesses will find them to be valuable over time through energy bill savings.
"For the most common type of LED replacement, it's just about 11 cents more expensive and it pays itself back in less than a month," said McClenney.
Fresh Energy said switching from fluorescent to LED bulbs could save Minnesota close to 800 gigawatts of electricity in a year, avoiding 650,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
People who buy fluorescent bulbs before the state's end date will still be able to use them until they burn out.
-
Plus: The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Northland continue to deal with staffing challenges; and MnDOT crews will begin a project on Highway 2 in Grand Rapids starting Monday, July 21.
-
A special election this November 2025 will decide whether to build a new school to replace Rippleside, which has several issues from space to health risks.
-
The devastating storms that impacted Bemidji and surrounding areas prompted the extension of a local emergency. The Beltrami County Board also heard an update on its temporary disposal site near Target.
-
Every Friday morning, we get to know one of our members on "What's for Breakfast." This week, we talked with Cathy Davies from Grand Rapids.
-
The reconstruction of the major intersection in Baxter is set for 2028. The open house meetings are on July 22, 2025.
-
Meetings in Eveleth, Duluth, Cohasset, Little Falls and online will give the public a chance to comment on how the utility plans to provide power through 2039.
-
Our lakes are one of the many things that make the Northland home, and we want to help people access them. KAXE's map of public beaches is a start, but we want your help expanding it.
-
-
-
The city of Grand Rapids asked the county to enter a joint power agreement to discuss the future operations of the library. The County Board pushed it to a July 29, 2025, meeting.