CURE Press Releases

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

CO2 Pipelines, 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

CO2 Pipelines, 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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A pipeline construction site

“Garbage In, Garbage Out”—CURE Calls Out the ‘Inadequacy’ of Minnesota’s Review of Summit CO2 Pipeline

CO2 Pipelines, Energy & Innovation Press Releases

Yesterday, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) released for comment its Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) 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 proposed project is part of Summit’s push for a $8.5 billion, 2,500 mile web

“Garbage In, Garbage Out”—CURE Calls Out the ‘Inadequacy’ of Minnesota’s Review of Summit CO2 Pipeline Read More »

Polluting Smokestacks Silhouetted in the Sun

Environmental groups unite to stop threat to Minnesota’s 100% Clean Energy Law

Energy & Innovation Press Releases

Minnesota needs to reject attempts to undermine this critical legislation as climate crisis worsens  Environmental groups are urging Minnesota’s Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to reject industry-backed efforts to upend Minnesota’s 100% Carbon Free Energy Law and hold the line against false climate solutions as the agency prepares to decide which energy technologies will qualify under

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Coal Smoke Stacks

Environmental and rural community groups slam DOE’s weak review of North Dakota’s Project Tundra (again)

Energy & Innovation Press Releases

Montevideo, MN, May 14, 2024 — On May 13th, 2024, CURE, The Sierra Club, and Dakota Resource Council (DRC) submitted a joint comment challenging the findings of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) most recent environmental review of Project Tundra, a proposed large-scale Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) project in North Dakota. Project Tundra is

Environmental and rural community groups slam DOE’s weak review of North Dakota’s Project Tundra (again) Read More »

USDA Touts Farmer Benefit Plans

Energy & Innovation Press Releases, People & Communities, People & Communities Press Releases

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

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Hudson Kingston

Hudson Kingston, CURE Legal Director, awarded Minnesota Attorney of the Year

CURE Press Releases, People & Communities Press Releases

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 »

Erik Hatlestad at the White House

Erik Hatlestad, CURE Energy Democracy Director, Answers USDA request to Serve with Rural Utility Service

Energy & Innovation Press Releases

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

Erik Hatlestad, CURE Energy Democracy Director, Answers USDA request to Serve with Rural Utility Service Read More »

Ethanol Plant, Corn, Electric Vehicle

A Midwestern Low Carbon Fuel Standard is Not a Climate Solution

Energy & Innovation Press Releases

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

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Kelsey Olson

Kelsey Olson

Director of Environmental Stewardship

Envelope Linkedin

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!

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