Solar Panels on Barn

New ERA funding cuts threaten future of Rural America

Energy & Innovation

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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Pipeline with Map Overlay

CURE says CO2 pipeline construction before completion of new federal standards is a mistake

Energy & Innovation Press Releases

Des Moines, Iowa, June 20, 2023 — Early this month, CURE joined environmental advocates, community members, landowners, and pipeline safety experts from across the Midwest in Des Moines, IA, to attend the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s (PHMSA) “Public Meeting on Carbon Dioxide Pipeline Safety.” The Public Meeting focused on

CURE says CO2 pipeline construction before completion of new federal standards is a mistake Read More »

People Celebrating on the Capitol Steps

Highlights from the Historic 2023 Minnesota Legislative Session

People & Communities

The Minnesota legislative session that began in January and ended May 22 is historic and transformative – a session that enacted game-changing investments and policies to benefit the people and families of Minnesotans everywhere. From health care to public safety, climate solutions to education, policymakers in this new legislative landscape came to enact change that

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Power Line and White House

A “New ERA” for MN rural communities & electric co-ops

Energy & Innovation Press Releases

CURE celebrates $9.7 billion in federal funds available for clean energy investments Rural leaders from across the country gathered at the White House last week to mark the release of the Empowering Rural America (New ERA) program. The program makes $9.7 billion of federal investment available to rural electric cooperatives that will leverage almost $40

A “New ERA” for MN rural communities & electric co-ops Read More »

GRE's Cambridge 2 Peaker Plant

GRE’s Cambridge 2 Peaker Plant Proposal: A blast from the past

CURE News, Energy & Innovation, People & Communities

Now is the time to invest in carbon-free electricity, energy efficiency, demand-side flexibility, and other innovations for the 21st century, NOT dirty diesel power. It is 2023. Minnesota, the country, and the world are experiencing the impacts of the growing climate crisis. In recognition of the urgency of the moment, this year, the Minnesota legislature

GRE’s Cambridge 2 Peaker Plant Proposal: A blast from the past Read More »

Coal Ash Pond

CURE Supports EPA Decision to Deny Permit for Coal Creek Toxic Ash Disposal

CURE Press Releases

Minnesota-based rural advocacy organization CURE is supporting the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision to deny a permit to the Rainbow Energy Center (formally known as Coal Creek Station) in North Dakota that would have allowed the coal-fired power plant to continue to dump toxic coal ash into its aging and failing storage pit. Coal ash

CURE Supports EPA Decision to Deny Permit for Coal Creek Toxic Ash Disposal Read More »

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 

Energy & Innovation

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 »

USC Land Back Meeting

Upper Sioux Agency State Park land transfer meeting — Many gather to share and learn more

People & Communities

Minnesotans from around the region traveled to Granite Falls to learn more about the proposed land transfer of Upper Sioux Agency State Park back to the Dakota people  Area residents encouraged to be on the “right side” of history moving forward  On the evening of Wednesday, April 5, several hundred people gathered in Granite Falls

Upper Sioux Agency State Park land transfer meeting — Many gather to share and learn more Read More »

Rise + Repair Marchers at the State Capitol

Marching for the 2023 Indigenous Rights and Climate Justice platform

CURE News, People & Communities

Rise & Repair Rally brings 200+ people to the Minnesota State Capitol on February 15th 200+ activists ask their legislators to center indigenous rights and climate justice in the transition to renewable energy What does a clean energy future look like to you? Affordable electricity with no more mass shut-offs right before winter? Smog-fee skies

Marching for the 2023 Indigenous Rights and Climate Justice platform 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!