Energy & Innovation

Two people clasping hands

An Open Letter: Electric Co-ops Must Lead in the COVID Crisis

CURE News, Energy & Innovation

To nonprofit leaders, community organizers, advocacy groups, and elected officials, We are leaders of faith, justice, agriculture, cooperative, rural and environmental organizations that share an understanding of the significance that rural electric cooperatives hold for resilience and economic relief and recovery during this time of crisis. With this open letter, we are calling on you […]

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Coal Plant on left and Wind Turbines on right

The future of coal is dim

Energy & Innovation

By Merrill Piepkorn, North Dakota State Senator, District 44 — North Fargo Great River Energy is a Minnesota-based cooperative that serves 700,000 members through 28 electric cooperatives. The lignite coal burning Coal Creek Station electric generation plant near Washburn, N.D., has been one of Great River’s major sources of electricity since it began operating in

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Graphic illustration of cooperation overlayed on a photo of a residential street

Electric Co-ops need to be bold leaders in a time of crisis

Energy & Innovation

The COVID-19 pandemic is exposing a myriad of weaknesses in our world’s economic, political, and social systems. Millions of people will be impacted worldwide, and the virus has already driven a major collapse on Wall Street. Times are going to be very tough for people across the U.S., across Minnesota–and especially in rural communities. During

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CURE member Pete with his Chevy Volt

We want Clean Cars too!

Energy & Innovation, People & Communities

A shortened version of this op-ed piece was originally published in the Minnesota Reformer. Last week, some state senators on the Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Legacy Finance Committee met to introduce a bill that revokes the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s (MPCA) authority to set standards for auto emissions. This specifically targets MPCA’s ability to adopt the

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Rural Downtown Main Street

Rural citizens say “Yes” to Clean Cars

Energy & Innovation

Today, the Minnesota State Senate’s Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Legacy Finance Committee is meeting to introduce a bill that revokes the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s (MPCA) authority to set standards for auto emissions. This specifically targets MPCA’s ability to adopt a Clean Cars Standard. Minnesotans for Clean Cars, a statewide coalition, is advocating

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UCS Report Cover

UCS Report links MN Electric Cooperatives to Coal Contracts

Energy & Innovation

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) just released an issue brief on Minnesota electric cooperatives (“co-ops”) and the role of out-of-state coal-fired power plants. While Minnesota-based coal plants are being phased out, local electric cooperatives in the state remain tied to memberships in larger generation and transmission cooperatives (G&T’s) that own coal plants in North

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Clean Cars MN

Clean Cars Minnesota | MPCA holds meetings & seeks comment

Energy & Innovation, People & Communities

In September, Governor Walz announced that Minnesota will adopt Clean Car Standards. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is now responsible for writing the rule to make this happen. Throughout late October and early November, MPCA travelled around Minnesota to hear from you and to answer your questions about a Clean Car Stand for Minnesota.

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Rural Electrification 2.0 report cover

“Rural Electrification 2.0” is the path to a clean energy future

Energy & Innovation

Rural electric cooperatives’ loyalty to coal is holding rural America back. That’s according to a new report authored by CURE, We Own It, and the Center for Rural Affairs. During the 1970s, the country’s electric co-ops made significant investments to build coal-burning power plants; this was done in the interest of providing low-cost electricity to

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3 CURE members running for REC board positions

Three CURE members Connecting Us to a clean energy future!

Energy & Innovation

Three CURE members—Brad Blue, Marsha Van Denburgh, and James Nelson—are poised to make history and advance clean energy and democracy in Minnesota by running to unseat the incumbents on the Connexus Energy board of directors. Brad, Marsha, and James are running on a platform of cooperative democracy (democratic member control), clean energy and grid innovation,

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REC Scorecard Graphic

Most MN electric co-op websites lack basics for informing members

Energy & Innovation

What information can Minnesotans who get their electricity from a rural electric cooperative find on their co-op’s website? For example, can co-op members get a basic explanation about the charges and fees on their electric bill? Can they see what mix of energy sources their electricity comes from? Is there information on how to vote

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Kelsey Olson

Kelsey Olson

Director of Environmental Stewardship

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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!