Energy Democracy

Old Tractor with American Flag

Farmer Benefit Plan

American agriculture – and small and mid-sized farmers in particular – has an enormous opportunity to build new revenue streams and community wealth through the clean energy transition. Siting of wind turbines, agrivoltaic arrays, and other clean energy investments can bring significant new investment to disinvested rural communities. In a 2020 report, the Rocky Mountain […]

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CCS Convening

Carbon Capture + Minnesota’s Carbon Free Future

At the convening “Carbon Capture and Minnesota’s ‘Carbon-Free’ Future,” CURE and other experts from Minnesota and throughout the U.S. came together for a timely and critical discussion about industry-driven carbon capture, CO2 pipelines, and the false promise of a “cleaner fossil fuel” future. Since 2021, CURE has been at the forefront of the debates surrounding

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Pipeline with Map Overlay

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

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

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Solar Panels on Barn

New ERA funding cuts threaten future of Rural America

Following the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), there has been growing excitement in rural communities and rural electric cooperative offices around the country about the historic investments in rural electrification contained in the IRA. Specifically, the Empowering Rural America Program (New ERA) and the Powering Affordable Clean Energy Program (PACE) will help leverage

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Rural Electric Co-op Scorecard

Scorecard 2023: Minnesota’s RECs are moving in the right direction and still need to take key steps to inform and engage members better 

RECs make a 93% improvement! Minnesota’s rural electric cooperatives (REC) are starting to heed the call to improve member-owner engagement through enhanced transparency. This is a significantly different place than RECs were in 2018 when CURE began to measure and track co-op governance and transparency policies via the REC Scorecard.   What’s new:  The 2023 iteration

Scorecard 2023: Minnesota’s RECs are moving in the right direction and still need to take key steps to inform and engage members better  Read More »

Green Plains Ethanol Plant

Summit submits CO2 pipeline route permit application to PUC for Otter Tail & Wilkin Counties

In mid-September, Iowa-based Summit Carbon Solutions (Summit) submitted its first route permit application to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) for the Otter Tail and Wilkin Counties section of its proposed Midwest Carbon Express CO2 pipeline network in Minnesota. This leg of the project is 28.1 miles, a small fraction of the more than 212

Summit submits CO2 pipeline route permit application to PUC for Otter Tail & Wilkin Counties Read More »

Left image is a man wiring a solar panel; the right image is black and white featuring rural electric co-op linemen stringing powerlines as part of the rural electrification act.

CURE helps win $9.7 billion in clean energy funding for Rural Electric Co-ops in Inflation Reduction Act

Today with the signing of the Inflation Reduction Act, America is making its most significant investment ever in rural electrification, with $9.7 billion available to Rural Electric Cooperatives for new clean energy investments. The USDA Assistance for Rural Electric Cooperatives Program will help rural Americans save money, invest in clean energy, and create 90,000 jobs.

CURE helps win $9.7 billion in clean energy funding for Rural Electric Co-ops in Inflation Reduction Act Read More »

Inflation Reduction Act of 2022

CURE’s Statement on the Inflation Reduction Act

A Win for Rural Electric Cooperatives  The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) makes historic investments to help Rural Electric Cooperatives transition to a clean energy future. As a rural Minnesota-based democracy organization, CURE is a long-time champion of Rural Electric Cooperatives. We have led the Rural Power Coalition to help secure this monumental funding that puts

CURE’s Statement on the Inflation Reduction Act Read More »

Generic people meeting image

Concern about Summit Carbon Solution’s proposed CO2 pipeline & shady tactics brings landowners together

Concern over a proposed CO2 pipeline in southwest Minnesota and the conduct of pipeline company, Summit Carbon Solutions, spurred nearly 60 landowners and community members from Redwood and Cottonwood Counties to meet on the evening of Friday, July 15th. In Minnesota, sections of Summit’s proposed high pressure CO2 pipeline network will cut through Chippewa, Cottonwood,

Concern about Summit Carbon Solution’s proposed CO2 pipeline & shady tactics brings landowners together Read More »

Rural Gravel Road

CURE applauds PUC decision to exert authority over hazardous CO2 pipelines

In a recent decision, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) unanimously voted that it has existing authority over carbon dioxide (CO2) pipelines. Summit Carbon Solutions and Navigator Ventures LLC each have proposed multi-state CO2 pipeline projects that will cross Minnesota. As these pipelines will be transporting highly pressurized CO2 in a hazardous state, the PUC

CURE applauds PUC decision to exert authority over hazardous CO2 pipelines Read More »

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Kelsey Olson

Kelsey Olson

Director of Environmental Stewardship

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!