On Thursday, January 5, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) unanimously voted to require an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) as a necessary component of the permitting process for Summit Carbon Solutions’ (Summit) carbon dioxide (CO2) pipeline. In doing so, the PUC denied Summit’s attempt to fast-track the review process of its hazardous CO2 pipeline project […]
A Win for Rural Electric Cooperatives The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) makes historic investments to help Rural Electric Cooperatives transition to a clean energy future. As a rural Minnesota-based democracy organization, CURE is a long-time champion of Rural Electric Cooperatives. We have led the Rural Power Coalition to help secure this monumental funding that puts
CURE’s Statement on the Inflation Reduction Act Read More »
Concern over a proposed CO2 pipeline in southwest Minnesota and the conduct of pipeline company, Summit Carbon Solutions, spurred nearly 60 landowners and community members from Redwood and Cottonwood Counties to meet on the evening of Friday, July 15th. In Minnesota, sections of Summit’s proposed high pressure CO2 pipeline network will cut through Chippewa, Cottonwood,
Summer is heating up, and so is CURE’s work! We don’t want you to miss out on updates about these issues critical to our rural Minnesota communities and the places we love across the state. Of course, we can’t do this work without the support of members like you. CO2 pipelines At the Minnesota Public
Sizzling & Speaking up! Read More »
Great River Energy (GRE) has proposed to the Public Utilities Commission a “minor alteration” to its existing permit for its gas-fired power plant in Cambridge, Minnesota. Hardly “minor,” the company plans to change it to an oil-and-gas-burning “dual fuel” plant while evading full environmental review. Environmental review for a new power plant would normally have
The Cycle Continues – Great River Energy Attempts to Evade Environmental Review Read More »
Are you an Xcel Energy customer in Chippewa, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Renville, Swift, or Yellow Medicine County? You have an opportunity to “go solar” and reduce your energy bills by joining a new co-op solar garden being developed just west of Clara City! This co-op solar garden is being developed by Cooperative Energy Futures,
Cooperative Solar Garden coming to West Central Minnesota! Read More »
As we’re nearing the end of the first quarter of 2022, we wanted to let you know about some of the exciting work we’ve been doing here at CURE and the news stories we’ve been generating. Of course, we can’t do this work without the support of our members like you. There’s been a lot
Extra! Extra! Read all about it! CURE in the News Read More »
To the leaders of Great River Energy, Many people throughout Minnesota, and across the country, celebrated Great River Energy’s move in 2020 to retire Coal Creek Station and make a groundbreaking transition to clean energy. That’s why so many member-owners and member-owner advocates were so disappointed when GRE unexpectedly changed course. Minnesota has a deep
Letter to GRE: Stop the sale of Coal Creek Station Read More »
When you hear the name Project Tundra or the phrase “carbon capture utilization and sequestration,” what is the first thing that comes to mind? If you say “Bond-esque doomsday machine,” you wouldn’t be too far off the mark. Project Tundra is a carbon capture utilization and sequestration (CCUS or CCS) project headed by Minnkota Electric
New report says: Project Tundra is a bad investment we can’t afford Read More »
September 25, 2020, marks the one year anniversary of Governor Walz’s announcement of Minnesota Clean Cars Standards. In the year since the announcement, Minnesota has faced an ongoing global pandemic and corresponding economic crisis and is confronting the state’s gaping racial inequities. In spite of these monumental challenges, Minnesota is showing its true resilient spirit
A Guide to Minnesota Clean Cars Standards 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.
