Energy & Innovation Press Releases

Erik Hatlestad honored for vital work on rural clean energy & electric co-ops 

CURE Press Releases, Energy & Innovation Press Releases

Last week, CURE’s Director of Rural Cooperative Energy, Erik Hatlestad, was named to the 2025 Grist50 list for his work on rural clean energy and electric cooperatives. This honor reflects Erik’s efforts helping design and pass the New ERA program that provides the largest investment in rural electrification in U.S. history. New ERA funding enables […]

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Duluth Night Skyline

Protect Minnesotans and the environment, reject the BlackRock buyout of Minnesota Power

Energy & Innovation Press Releases

Minnesota PUC must put public interest first by denying private equity greed The final comment period closed for the proposed private equity acquisition of ALLETE, parent company of Minnesota Power. Under the proposed acquisition, ALLETE would no longer be a publicly traded company and would be sold to two private equity investors, the Canadian Pension

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Boswell Energy Center Sign

Environmental Organizations Demand that Minnesota Power Comply with Wastewater Rules at Boswell Plant One Year After Massive Coal-Ash Wastewater Spill

Energy & Innovation, Energy & Innovation Press Releases

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

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Duluth Night Skyline

Judge sides with consumers & environment, slams proposed BlackRock buyout of Minnesota Power

Energy & Innovation, Energy & Innovation Press Releases

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

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CO2 Pipeline

CURE Seeks Reconsideration of CO2 Pipeline Permit in MN

Energy & Innovation Press Releases

Saint Paul, MN, March 13, 2025 —Today, Minnesota-based rural advocacy organization, CURE, filed an appeal to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) arguing that the decision to grant Summit Carbon Solutions, LLC a permit for 28-miles of CO2 pipeline in Otter Tail and Wilkins Counties is “inconsistent with [Minnesota’s] pipeline routing statutes and rules.” “We

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pipeline in trench

MN greases the wheels for Summit’s CO2 pipeline, SD voters deal a serious blow // MN PUC will decide on Summit’s permit in December 12th meeting

Energy & Innovation Press Releases

Montevideo, MN, November 12, 2024—Last week saw two important if contradictory decisions related to Summit Carbon Solutions LLC’s controversial $8.9-billion carbon-capture pipeline project. One moves the CO2 pipeline one step forward in securing the permit for its proposed 28-mile segment in Minnesota. At the same time, the other is a major electoral setback in South

MN greases the wheels for Summit’s CO2 pipeline, SD voters deal a serious blow // MN PUC will decide on Summit’s permit in December 12th meeting Read More »

Public Hearing on the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the CO2 Pipeline in MN

As comment period closes, Minnesotans show overwhelming opposition to proposed CO2 pipeline in Fergus Falls area

Energy & Innovation Press Releases

September 19, 2024—By more than a 100-to-1 ratio, Minnesotans have submitted public comments opposing the proposed Summit Carbon Solutions carbon dioxide (CO2) pipeline. The comment period, which closed on Sept 11, was regarding the 28-mile Otter Tail to Wilkin Counties segment of a proposed 240+ mile CO2 pipeline network planned for Minnesota. Of the more

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President Biden Addressing a Crowd

Biden Announces Historic Investments in Rural Electric Cooperatives

Energy & Innovation Press Releases

Westby, WI, September 5, 2024 – Today, President Biden announced the first round of finalists for the Empowering Rural America (New ERA) Program, the largest investment in rural electrification in U.S. history. CURE, an organization with deep roots in rural Minnesota and a driving force behind this program, was present to witness this historic moment.

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Pipeline Related Photo Collage

Minnesotans bring concerns during CO2 pipeline hearings; Oil industry gushes support

Energy & Innovation Press Releases

Last Thursday, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) concluded a series of public and evidentiary hearings regarding the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and route permit 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. During public hearings held in

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Public Hearing on the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the CO2 Pipeline in MN

Administrative Law Judge hears from Full House on Proposed CO2 Pipeline for Otter Tail and Wilkin Counties

Energy & Innovation Press Releases

What does the Fergus Falls water supply, protections for the Otter Tail River, promised union jobs, landowners, Green Plains ethanol plant and carbon capture have in common? On Tuesday evening, at the Bigwood Event Center in Fergus Falls, Administrative Law Judge Christa Moseng heard from approximately 20 of 70 people in attendance at the Public

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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!