Erik Hatlestad

Erik Hatlestad

Director of Rural Cooperative Energy

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Erik Hatlestad (he/him) joined CURE in 2013 and today directs CURE’s Rural Cooperative Energy Program. A long-time rural advocate, his work focuses on fostering democracy and the clean energy transition for rural electric cooperatives.

Erik captured the attention of policymakers with his co-authored 2019 report, Rural Electrification 2.0. The report highlighted the barriers blocking rural electric cooperatives’ clean energy transition. In 2022, building on the report, Erik led a national advocacy effort to secure the Empowering Rural America (New ERA) Program and the Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) Program in the 2023 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). These innovative programs represent the most significant direct investment in rural electrification since the New Deal (1936). Since the passage of the IRA, Erik has led efforts to ensure a strong program design that assures a just, democratic, and equitable energy transition across rural America.

Erik is a graduate of Concordia College and lives in New London, MN. Outside of the office, Erik appreciates time in canoes, on skis, and in the woods. When he’s in civilization, he enjoys live music and the bounty of Minnesota’s robust local food and culinary scene.

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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!

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