🚫 CO2 Pipelines in MN 🚫 CURE continues to lead the opposition to Summit’s proposed CO2 pipeline. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the 28-mile portion of the project in Otter Tail and Wilkin County was published in January of this year. We were happy to see so many impacted community members, members of […]
No fooling! Catch up with CURE ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥 Read More »
CURE originated Farmer Benefit Plans & hails announcement as vital for farmers & rural communities In early March, at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) PowerXchange gathering, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) use of Farmer Benefit Plans for Empowering Rural America (New ERA) and Powering Affordable
USDA Touts Farmer Benefit Plans Read More »
On Thursday, February 8, 2024, CURE’s Legal Director, Hudson Kingston, was honored as a 2023 Minnesota Attorney of the Year, awarded by Minnesota Lawyer magazine. Hudson is being recognized as part of the legal team that represented the East Phillips Neighborhood Institute (EPNI) in their David-and-Goliath struggle against the City of Minneapolis. EPNI sued the
Hudson Kingston, CURE Legal Director, awarded Minnesota Attorney of the Year Read More »
At the end of January, CURE bid a temporary “bon voyage” to Energy Democracy Director Erik Hatlestad as he started serving a six-month detail with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development, Rural Utility Service (RUS) as a Clean Energy Benefits Advisor. During his detail, Hatlestad will help the RUS implement the Empowering
On February 1, 2024, four organizations published a Minority Report entitled “A Midwestern Low Carbon Fuel Standard is Not a Climate Solution: Minority Report on the Clean Transportation Standard Work Group Report to the Legislature” in response to the fuels report released by several state agencies and the Clean Transportation Standard (CTS) Work Group. The Minority
A Midwestern Low Carbon Fuel Standard is Not a Climate Solution Read More »
Today, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC or Commission) released its Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the 28-mile Otter Tail to Wilkin Counties segment of Summit Carbon Solutions’ (Summit) proposed 240+ mile carbon dioxide (CO2) pipeline network in Minnesota. This begins a 30-day comment period where Minnesotans can weigh in on the clean-energy future
Minnesota’s “Carbon-Free Future” & the Myth of Cleaner Fossil Fuels In October, CURE hosted a convening for environmental organizations and activists in Saint Paul entitled “Carbon Capture and Minnesota’s ‘Carbon-Free’ Future.” Joined by experts from across the country, CURE staff delved into the issues of a rapidly expanding carbon capture industry, providing insight as to
Light returns. Years turn. Catch up with CURE. Read More »
Minnesota winters, rural roads, and electric vehicles are made for each other! This free in-person event allowed folks to test-drive new EVs in winter conditions during Ely’s annual winter extravaganza. CURE partnered with Drive Electric Minnesota and the Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs). As part of Ely’s Winter Festival this event featured: Ely’s newest &
Northern Exposure: Winter EV Ride & Drive | Ely Read More »
2023 Minnesota Legislative Session There were so many wins for Minnesotans and our Minnesota lands – Read more here! CO2 Pipelines + False Climate Solutions CURE continues to lead the Minnesota campaign against proposed CO2/Carbon Pipelines by helping organize landowners and concerned communities. At the state and federal level, CURE continues to intervene with regulators
The Run Down: CURE’s Work + Wins in 2023 Read More »
American agriculture – and small and mid-sized farmers in particular – has an enormous opportunity to build new revenue streams and community wealth through the clean energy transition. Siting of wind turbines, agrivoltaic arrays, and other clean energy investments can bring significant new investment to disinvested rural communities. In a 2020 report, the Rocky Mountain
Farmer Benefit Plan Read More »
Kelsey Olson (she/her) joined CURE in 2025 as its Director of Environmental Stewardship. As a skilled environmental naturalist, Kelsey’s work focuses broadly on environmental education and advocacy with a keen focus on rural land use and how that use impacts our environment and climate. Working Lands, how land is used to support agriculture and forestry, is a key focus of her work. She brings 15 years’ experience in public communication, environmental education, and rural community engagement – strong communication strategies are core in her work. This includes two terms of service with AmeriCorps in the VISTA program in Oregon and Maryland and a nearly 10-year career as a naturalist followed. She recently worked on communications and marketing for rural economic development.
Kelsey lives in New London, MN, with her young children, husband, dog, and two cats. They enjoy spending time together outside and finding small treasures in nature. Visits to Minneapolis often include visits to one of their favorite historical museums, the Minnesota Swedish Institute. Kelsey enjoys experimenting in the kitchen, whether this is canning local produce, making kombucha, or other treats!
