public utilities commission

No CO2 Pipelines sign in a rural setting

South Dakota regulators reject Summit’s CO2 pipeline permit

Energy & Innovation

MN PUC declines to reconsider CO2 pipeline permit decision for Otter Tail & Wilkin Counties On April 21st, Summit Carbon Solutions—the company proposing to build the controversial five-state, 2,500-mile Midwest Carbon Express CO2 pipeline network—faced yet another significant setback when South Dakota rejected its application for a permit to build and operate approximately 700 miles of pipeline […]

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pipeline in trench

CURE Seeks Reconsideration of CO2 Pipeline Permit in MN

Energy & Innovation, Land & Water, People & Communities

Updated maps show new pipeline leg in Chippewa, Kandiyohi & Swift Counties  On March 13, CURE, a rural advocacy organization based out of Montevideo, filed an appeal to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) arguing that the decision to grant Summit Carbon Solutions, LLC a permit for 28-miles of CO2 pipeline in Otter Tail and Wilkin Counties

CURE Seeks Reconsideration of CO2 Pipeline Permit in MN Read More »

Windmill on Prairie

Minnesota weighs in on the meaning of “Clean Energy” as PUC releases draft EIS for segment of proposed CO2 pipeline

Energy & Innovation Press Releases

Today, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC or Commission) released its Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) 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 begins a 30-day comment period where Minnesotans can weigh in on the clean-energy future

Minnesota weighs in on the meaning of “Clean Energy” as PUC releases draft EIS for segment of proposed CO2 pipeline Read More »

Rainbow sidewalk chalk drawing

Somewhere over the rainbow

CURE News

TL;DR: CURE continues to pursue democracy-driven solutions to solve big problems—because the places we love the most and call home aren’t somewhere over the rainbow; they are right here. But—because you did take the time to open this jam-packed blog—stick with us for the next 4 minutes and learn more about historic rural clean energy

Somewhere over the rainbow 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 »

Rural Gravel Road

CURE applauds PUC decision to exert authority over hazardous CO2 pipelines

Energy & Innovation Press Releases, People & Communities Press Releases

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 »

GRE's Cambridge 2 Peaker Plant

The Cycle Continues – Great River Energy Attempts to Evade Environmental Review

CURE News, Energy & Innovation

Great River Energy (GRE) has proposed to the Public Utilities Commission a “minor alteration” to its existing permit for its gas-fired power plant in Cambridge, Minnesota. Hardly “minor,” the company plans to change it to an oil-and-gas-burning “dual fuel” plant while evading full environmental review. Environmental review for a new power plant would normally have

The Cycle Continues – Great River Energy Attempts to Evade Environmental Review 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!