diff --git a/.env.development b/.env.development
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c0d66521
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.env.development
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+NODE_ENV=development
diff --git a/src/lib/env.ts b/src/lib/env.ts
index 95d11547..940bb949 100644
--- a/src/lib/env.ts
+++ b/src/lib/env.ts
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 export const ENV = {
-  OS_RAISE_CONTENT_URL_PREFIX: import.meta.env.PROD ? 'https://k12.openstax.org/contents/raise' : 'http://localhost:8800/contents',
+  OS_RAISE_CONTENT_URL_PREFIX: import.meta.env.MODE === 'production' ? 'https://k12.openstax.org/contents/raise' : 'http://localhost:8800/contents',
   OS_RAISE_EVENTSAPI_URL_MAP: {},
   EVENT_FLUSH_PERIOD: 60000
 }
 
-if (import.meta.env.PROD) {
+if (import.meta.env.MODE === 'production') {
   ENV.OS_RAISE_EVENTSAPI_URL_MAP = {
     'raiselearning.org': 'https://events.raiselearning.org',
     'staging.raiselearning.org': 'https://events.staging.raiselearning.org'