We all need access to clean water, and it is essential to our rural MN communities. Currently, Minnesota is in a water quality crisis due to runoff pollutants and increased erosion as a result of unregulated land management practices. But we know Minnesota can do better. CURE, as part of a coalition of nine state-based groups […]
ACT NOW: Ag Drainage Should Require a Permit Read More »
Today, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) unanimously approved the sale of ALLETE, the parent company of Minnesota Power, to two private equity investors, the Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP) and Global Infrastructure Partners, a subsidiary of BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager. This decision concludes a lengthy regulatory, legal, and public battle which
MN PUC Greenlights Private Equity Takeover of Minnesota Power Read More »
CURE stands with clergy, immigrant leaders, and community allies in strong opposition to the reopening of the Prairie Correctional Facility in Appleton, MN, as an ICE detention center. Reopening this prison—owned by CoreCivic, a private prison corporation with a history of reports of mismanagement, unsafe conditions, and detainee abuse—would violate our deepest humanitarian and spiritual
CURE Statement on the Potential of an ICE Detention Center in Appleton Read More »
Last week, CURE’s Director of Rural Cooperative Energy, Erik Hatlestad, was named to the 2025 Grist50 list for his work on rural clean energy and electric cooperatives. This honor reflects Erik’s efforts helping design and pass the New ERA program that provides the largest investment in rural electrification in U.S. history. New ERA funding enables
Erik Hatlestad honored for vital work on rural clean energy & electric co-ops Read More »
Today, the MN Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is hearing parties on the proposed sale of ALLETE/Minnesota Power to private equity interests. The PUC will make its decision on whether to approve or reject this deal next Friday, October 3rd. Your voice still matters. Email the PUC at [email protected] and tell them to reject the takeover of MN Power by BlackRock (include
Proposed sale of MN Power to BlackRock Read More »
Back in April, we reported the big news out of South Dakota that would seem to strike a fatal blow to Summit Carbon Solutions’ multi-state, 2,500+ mile CO2 pipeline network. At yet, throughout the summer, Summit lumbered on across the prairie landscape like a zombie, not quite dead yet certainly not fully alive.  Much of
What’s the deal with the Summit CO2 pipeline? Read More »
Minnesota Power is violating federal coal ash rules! And, now, CURE has joined with Sierra Club and the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy (MCEA) in letting the utility know. In July 2024, Minnesota Power’s Boswell coal plant suffered a 5.5 million gallon coal ash water spill, and the company has still not come clean about how bad the
Demanding Accountability from Minnesota Power Over Boswell Coal Ash Spill Read More »
Minnesota PUC must put public interest first by denying private equity greed The final comment period closed for the proposed private equity acquisition of ALLETE, parent company of Minnesota Power. Under the proposed acquisition, ALLETE would no longer be a publicly traded company and would be sold to two private equity investors, the Canadian Pension
Protect Minnesotans and the environment, reject the BlackRock buyout of Minnesota Power Read More »
Re: In the Matter of the Petition of Minnesota Power for the Acquisition of ALLETE by Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and Global Infrastructure Partners, Docket Nos. E-015/PA-24-198 and E-015/M-24-383 CURE submits these initial comments to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (Commission) regarding the questions posed in the July 18, 2025, Notice of Comment Period on
Why the ALLETE/MN Power Acquisition Settlement Fails the Public Interest Test Read More »
 A critical battle for our energy future and the role of private equity in our essential services is playing out in northern Minnesota. And CURE, along with our allies, had a significant victory along the way to a final decision. ALLETE/Minnesota Power is the target of a proposed acquisition by powerful private equity interests, Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) and the Canadian
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!
