CURE Press Releases

Coal Smoke Stacks

CURE and Sierra Club call out DOE’s poor analysis of controversial “Project Tundra”

Energy & Innovation Press Releases

Montevideo MN, September 20, 2023 – Today, CURE and Sierra Club submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) challenging the agency’s environmental analysis and expressed approval of the controversial “Project Tundra,” a proposed large-scale carbon capture and storage project in North Dakota. “The DOE’s plan to spend nearly forty million dollars propping up […]

CURE and Sierra Club call out DOE’s poor analysis of controversial “Project Tundra” Read More »

Pipeline with Map Overlay

South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Denies Summit CO2 Pipeline Permit Request

Energy & Innovation Press Releases

Montevideo, MN, September 13, 2023 — On September 11th, the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission (SD PUC) denied Summit Carbon Solutions’ (Summit) application for the company’s proposed CO2 pipeline. The decision was based on concerns raised by four counties that Summit would violate those counties’ setbacks requirements. The setbacks are intended to protect those living

South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Denies Summit CO2 Pipeline Permit Request Read More »

Shakopee Creek

Concerned Kandiyohi County community members call for thorough Environmental Review of proposed Tepetonka Golf Course

Land & Water Press Releases

Willmar, MN, September 13, 2023 — Today, locally-based organization CURE submitted a petition with 376 signatures to the Kandiyohi County Commissioners calling for robust environmental review of the proposed Tepetonka Golf Course. The local community has broadly opposed the proposed golf course, and many area residents are calling for further environmental review. The Tepetonka project

Concerned Kandiyohi County community members call for thorough Environmental Review of proposed Tepetonka Golf Course Read More »

Pipeline with Map Overlay

CURE to MN PUC: Halt review of CO2 “pipeline to nowhere”

Energy & Innovation Press Releases, People & Communities

This week, the Minnesota-based organization CURE formally petitioned the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to halt their review of Summit Carbon Solutions’ proposed CO2 pipeline in Otter Tail and Wilkin Counties. CURE’s request comes in response to North Dakota’s recent denial of Summit’s permit application in that state. In their filing, CURE contends that without

CURE to MN PUC: Halt review of CO2 “pipeline to nowhere” Read More »

Pipeline with Map Overlay

North Dakota Public Service Commission Denies Summit Carbon Solutions’ CO2 Pipeline Application

Energy & Innovation Press Releases

Montevideo, MN, August 7, 2023 — On Friday, August 4th, the North Dakota Public Services Commission (NDPSC) voted 3-0 to deny Summit Carbon Solutions’ (Summit) application to construct a carbon dioxide (CO2) pipeline in the state. The NDPSC’s order stated that Summit: “Failed to meet its burden of proof to show that the location, construction,

North Dakota Public Service Commission Denies Summit Carbon Solutions’ CO2 Pipeline Application Read More »

Pipeline with Map Overlay

CURE says CO2 pipeline construction before completion of new federal standards is a mistake

Energy & Innovation Press Releases

Des Moines, Iowa, June 20, 2023 — Early this month, CURE joined environmental advocates, community members, landowners, and pipeline safety experts from across the Midwest in Des Moines, IA, to attend the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s (PHMSA) “Public Meeting on Carbon Dioxide Pipeline Safety.” The Public Meeting focused on

CURE says CO2 pipeline construction before completion of new federal standards is a mistake Read More »

Power Line and White House

A “New ERA” for MN rural communities & electric co-ops

Energy & Innovation Press Releases

CURE celebrates $9.7 billion in federal funds available for clean energy investments Rural leaders from across the country gathered at the White House last week to mark the release of the Empowering Rural America (New ERA) program. The program makes $9.7 billion of federal investment available to rural electric cooperatives that will leverage almost $40

A “New ERA” for MN rural communities & electric co-ops Read More »

Coal Ash Pond

CURE Supports EPA Decision to Deny Permit for Coal Creek Toxic Ash Disposal

CURE Press Releases

Minnesota-based rural advocacy organization CURE is supporting the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision to deny a permit to the Rainbow Energy Center (formally known as Coal Creek Station) in North Dakota that would have allowed the coal-fired power plant to continue to dump toxic coal ash into its aging and failing storage pit. Coal ash

CURE Supports EPA Decision to Deny Permit for Coal Creek Toxic Ash Disposal Read More »

CO2 Pipeline Map

CURE says PUC “got it wrong”— Petitions for reconsideration on scope of Environmental Review for CO2 pipeline

Energy & Innovation Press Releases

CURE (Clean Up the River Environment) is arguing that there is nothing hypothetical about Summit Carbon Solutions’ (Summit) plans for an extensive CO2 pipeline network in Minnesota. On Monday, February 27, Montevideo-based CURE petitioned the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to reconsider its February 6, 2023, decision to deny CURE’s Citizen Petition for environmental review

CURE says PUC “got it wrong”— Petitions for reconsideration on scope of Environmental Review for CO2 pipeline Read More »

Heavy Equipment digging a Pipeline

CURE applauds PUC decision requiring environmental review for CO2 pipeline but troubled by limited scope

Energy & Innovation Press Releases, People & Communities Press Releases

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

CURE applauds PUC decision requiring environmental review for CO2 pipeline but troubled by limited scope Read More »

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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!