2026 Minnesota Legislative Session Review Minnesota Legislators just wrapped up the session, marking the end of an at-times contentious 2025-2026 biennium. Despite strong efforts from advocates, the legislature was ultimately unable to come to agreement on almost any energy and environmental proposals. “If we don’t fight hard enough for the things we stand for, at […]
They Didn’t Get It Done. We’re Just Getting Started. Read More »
It costs more and more every month to keep our homes warm in the winter and cool in the summer. According to the National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA), the average electric bill in Minnesota rose more than 9% in just one year, from $94.45 in October 2025 to $103.04 in October 2026. Heating costs
ACT NOW 📈💰 Energy bills are going up—Too many Minnesotans are falling behind. Read More »
Winter is setting in across Minnesota. At the same time, thousands of Minnesotans are at risk of not being able to afford to keep the heat on because the federal government shutdown has halted funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). A CURE-led coalition of 18 organizations from around Minnesota, have sent
Gov. Walz: Protect Minnesota Families from LIHEAP Suspension Read More »
Defending the carbon-free standard at the Public Utilities Commission and in the Legislature For the second year in a row, CURE has worked in coalition with environmental justice, environmental advocacy, climate activist, health professional, faith based, and zero waste organizations to defend Minnesota’s 100% Carbon Free Energy Law passed in law in 2023. We’ve created
CURE Work + Wins 2025 Read More »
Back in April, we reported the big news out of South Dakota that would seem to strike a fatal blow to Summit Carbon Solutions’ multi-state, 2,500+ mile CO2 pipeline network. At yet, throughout the summer, Summit lumbered on across the prairie landscape like a zombie, not quite dead yet certainly not fully alive. Much of
What’s the deal with the Summit CO2 pipeline? Read More »
Re: In the Matter of the Petition of Minnesota Power for the Acquisition of ALLETE by Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and Global Infrastructure Partners, Docket Nos. E-015/PA-24-198 and E-015/M-24-383 CURE submits these initial comments to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (Commission) regarding the questions posed in the July 18, 2025, Notice of Comment Period on
Why the ALLETE/MN Power Acquisition Settlement Fails the Public Interest Test Read More »
Today, Sierra Club, CURE, and the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy (MCEA) sent a letter to Minnesota Power demanding that the company address problems associated with storage and management of coal ash wastewater at the coal-fired Boswell Energy Center, which violate the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and associated federal regulations. Under a federal rule governing management of coal ash
Private equity acquisition of public utility would result in “net harm” On July 15th, Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) released her report recommending that the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) reject the proposed private equity buyout of ALLETE, Inc., parent company of Minnesota Power, a Duluth-based regulated electric utility serving northern Minnesota residential and industrial customers. Under
End of the 2025 Special Session This is the fourth and final CURE Legislative update of the 2025 Session. Check out our previous updates here: Keeping it Real and Rural; CURE’s Cliff Notes; and The Show Must Go On. Just before 2:00 am on Tuesday, June 9th, the Minnesota legislature wrapped up special session, passing all the necessary
A Brief Update on CURE’s priorities at the end of the Regular Legislative Session This is the third CURE Legislative update of 2025. Stay tuned for our end-of-session wrap-up at the conclusion of the special session. As of Monday, May 19th, the 2025 Regular Session of the Minnesota State Legislature has come to an end.
The Show Must Go On 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 American Swedish Institute. Kelsey enjoys experimenting in the kitchen, canning local produce, and making kombucha.
