The Land Back movement, a decentralized effort to return control of ancestral lands to Indigenous communities, gained widespread visibility in recent years, but it has existed in different forms since colonial powers first seized land. Land Back is a part of Indigenous people’s and allies’ efforts to address the ongoing legacy of colonialism. Indigenous communities […]
Land Back opportunity in Minnesota Read More »
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 »
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
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
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 »
CURE is fighting for a bright rural future and against false climate solutions on the ground in our rural Minnesota communities, through the media, and in the halls of power at the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission and in the legislature. “The Biggest Energy story you don’t know about” CURE took to the pages of MinnPost
Everything Everywhere All at Once Read More »
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
The 100% Clean Energy Act sets Minnesota on the path of clean and renewable energy that will save Minnesotans money, increase electric grid reliability, and create good rural jobs. We are protecting and preserving what we love most about Minnesota and looking out for our kids and grandkids. 100% Clean Electricity from the sun and
100% Clean Energy MN Read More »
On Thursday, January 5, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) unanimously voted to require an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) as a necessary component of the permitting process for Summit Carbon Solutions’ (Summit) carbon dioxide (CO2) pipeline. In doing so, the PUC denied Summit’s attempt to fast-track the review process of its hazardous CO2 pipeline project
For many, November can feel dreary and drab as we slide toward the darkest time of the year. During the past few years, the news and mood have held that same tone and we collectively have borne a weariness. Yet we still do all that needs to be done. We donate to the food shelf
Together our light shines brighter Read More »
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!
