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No More Piggyback Rides: The Loophole That Lets Big Water Users Avoid Accountability 

CURE News, Energy & Innovation, Land & Water

A loophole called “piggybacking” lets large industrial water users rely on municipal permits instead of getting their own, shifting liability and consequences onto local communities. Hyperscale data centers are the latest industry trying this maneuver. As Elko New Market shows, the impacts don’t go away—someone else just gets stuck paying the price. 

No More Piggyback Rides: The Loophole That Lets Big Water Users Avoid Accountability  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 American Swedish Institute. Kelsey enjoys experimenting in the kitchen, canning local produce, and making kombucha.