Field Notes

MN Legislative Session Wrap 🏛 + Board Director Jenna! 👋 + Grassroots Voices 📣

They Didn’t Get It Done. We’re Just Getting Started. 🏛 ✊

Minnesota lawmakers wrapped up a contentious session without passing meaningful energy or environmental policy despite strong public pressure. CURE’s legislative priorities—responsible data center standards, better pipeline planning, and zero waste policies—fell short this year, even with bipartisan support.

Frustrating? Absolutely. But it’s not the end of the story. CURE and our partners built momentum, strengthened our coalition, and organized alongside communities facing new hyperscale data center proposals. We’ll keep showing up, speaking out, and pushing for change. Read more.

Welcome, Jenna Yeakle 👋 CURE’s new board member!

Jenna Yeakle

Jenna lives in Duluth and has long been a community organizer for a just, clean energy transition. She is a campaign manager with the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign in the Midwest, bringing health expertise and commitment to social justice to climate and democracy work. You’ll also find her gardening, cycling, and singing in a local community choir. She lives with her partner, Chris, their dog, Mags, and backyard chickens. Read more.

Data Centers Grassroots Voices 📣

At least 15 hyperscale data centers are being proposed across Minnesota. In Farmington, Pine Island, Hermantown, and beyond, local folks are stepping up and speaking out. Hear their stories and watch for more in the weeks ahead. 

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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 American Swedish Institute. Kelsey enjoys experimenting in the kitchen, canning local produce, and making kombucha.