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2025

Unpacking the Water Issues | Minnesota Womens Press — Mikki Morrissette (12/30/2025)

Two Minnesota farmers say policy changes work against on-farm energy systems | West Central Tribune — Tom Cherveny (12/16/2025)

Data Center plans stalled in North Mankato after developer backs out | The Free Press — Leah Call (11/17/2025)

Brown: As Minnesota braces for winter, federal cuts leave energy assistance in limbo | Minnesota Star Tribune — Aaron Brown (11/17/2025)

CURE hosts educational event surrounding data centers | Fox 21 Local News — Xaiver Walt (11/13/2025)

Data centers and the balance between economic development, environment | The Free Press — Leah Call (11/12/2025)

With federal heating aid frozen, MN coalition calls for state action | Public News Service — Mike Moen (11/7/2025)

Minnesota should reject burning trees and trash for electricity | Minnesota Star Tribune — Margaret Levin, Nazir Khan and Duane Ninneman (10/23/2025)

BlackRock Just Bought a Minnesota Utility | The American Prospect — James Baratta (10/8/2025)

BlackRock’s Minnesota Power takeover splits DFL coalition as corporate giant seeks bigger targets | Minnesota Reformer — Brian Martucci (10/6/2025)

State regulators approve sale of northern MN public utility to private investors | MPR — Dan Kraker (10/3/2025)

Private Equity Power Play in Minnesota | The American Prospect — James Baratta (10/2/2025)

MPUC to decide on MP sale this Friday | The Timber Jay — Robert Monteith (10/2/2025)

Does Gov. Walz stand with Minnesotans or with BlackRock? | Minnesota Reformer — Alissa Jean Schafer (10/1/2025)

Prayer vigil will oppose use of Appleton, Minnesota, prison for ICE detention | West Central Tribune — (9/30/2025)

Possible Sale of Allete | Almanac — Kaomi Lee (9/26/2025)

MN on verge of deciding blockbuster utility sale | Public News Service — Mike Moen (9/26/2025)

Climate progress is still happening: Meet the 2025 Grist 50 | Grist (9/17/2025)

Critics say BlackRock’s Minnesota utility bid will increase rates – and clean energy goals will suffer | The Guardian — Dhara Noor (9/8/2025)

Opposition of Minnesota Power Sale Host Press Conference | Fox 21 Local News — Xavier Walt, Nathaniel LeCapitaine (9/3/2025)

DEEP DIVE: The Farmington Push for Responsible Hyper-Scale Data Centers | Minnesota Women’s Press — Mikki Morrissette (8/25/2025)

This Is How Wall Street Could Buy Your Power Company | The Lever — Katya Schwenk (8/15/2025)

Voices of Energy, Land, and Justice | Minnesota Women’s Press — Sarah Mooradian (7/30/2025)

Comment period extended for MN Power electricity plan | KAXE — Megan Buffington (7/29/2025)

As Private Equity Comes for the Utility Sector, Minnesota Is a Test Case | Truthout — Derek Seidman (7/25/2025)

‘Financial support’ from Minnesota Power may have influenced backers of utility acquisition, judge says | Energy and Policy Institute — Karlee Weinman (7/24/2025)

Environmental orgs threaten to sue MN Power over Boswell spill response | KAXE — Megan Buffington (7/24/2025)

One year after massive spill, MN coal plant under scrutiny | Public News Service — Mike Moen (7/22/2025)

Brown: Is the Minnesota Power sale in the public interest? A judge is skeptical. | The Minnesota StarTribune — Aaron Brown (7/19/2025)

Judge recommends state regulators reject sale of Minnesota Power to BlackRock | Bring Me the News — Mary McGuire (7/16/2025)

Law judge calls for Minnesota PUC to reject $6.2B Allete private equity deal | Utility Dive — Ethan Howland (7/16/2025)

PUC should not approve MN Power’s sale to private equity firms, says | Megan Buffington (7/16/2025)

State agency drops opposition to Allete purchase | Duluth News Tribune — Jimmy Lovrein (7/14/2025)

Why Is BlackRock Gunning to Take Over a Minnesota Electric Utility? | Truthout — Derek Seidman (6/27/2025)

Data centers face new regulations, some worry they fall short of protecting water, residents | Minnesota Public Radio — Kirsti Marohn (6/18/2025)

What new rules for data centers mean for the environment and the industry’s future in Minnesota | The Minnesota StarTribune — Walker Orenstein (6/11/2025)

Opinion: No tax breaks for Big Tech in 11th-hour deals | The Minnesota StarTribune — JT Haines, Sarah Mooradian, Margaret Levin & Patty O’Keefe (6/3/2025)

Proposed sale of Minnesota Power to private equity firm raises questions about state’s energy future | MinnPost — Maggie Schuppert & Jenna Yeakle (6/1/2025)

Minnesota environmental groups concerned about enforcement of laws | KFGO — Dan Haney (4/28/2025)

CO2 pipeline developer mulls reboot after South Dakota rejection | E&E News — Carlos Anchondo (4/24/2025)

Trump policies top the talking points at Minnesota lawmaker town halls | MPR — Dan Kraker (4/17/2025)

Huge turnout for Hauschild’s Ely town hall | Ely Timberjay — Catie Clark (4/17/2025)

Ratepayers sound off on proposed sale of Minnesota Power | Public News Service — Mike Moen (3/13/2025)

At public hearing, BlackRock looms over Allete sale | Duluth News Tribune — James Lovrein (4/72025)

Customers should weigh in on proposed ALLETE sale | Ely Timberjay — Maggie Schuppert (4/3/2025)

Passionate crowd voices alarm at town hall in Willmar, Minnesota | West Centrial Tribune — Tom Cherveny (3/28/2025)

Rural Minnesotans need state agency accountability, too | The MN Star Tribune — Hudson Kingston (3/21/2025)

MN ties to troubled carbon pipeline project come back into focus | Public News Service — Mike Moen (3/13/2025)

Big Data Is Coming to Minnesota: Are We Ready? | PRX / North Star Stories — Emma Needham (3/6/2025)

Amazon can’t skip permitting process for data center generators, MN utilities commission decides | Bring Me the News — Declan Desmond (3/2/2025)

Discussions around the impact of Blackrock’s potential buyout of ALLETE/Minnesota Power | WDIO — Liam Fellman (2/28/2025)

Minnesota could join data center ‘gold rush,’ but at what cost? | KFGO — Don Haney (2/24/2025)

MN could join data center ‘gold rush,’ but at what cost? | Public News Service — Mike Moen (2/24/2025)

Ely’s Braver Angels host workshop on mining issues | Ely Timberjay — Catie Clark (2/6/2025)

Amazon loses fight to exempt data center from energy regulation | Washington Post — Caroline O’Donovan (2/1/2025)

EPA alleges Keetac exceeded sulfate limit nearly 300 times | Duluth News Tribune — James Lovrein (01/16/2025)

MN joins the carbon capture pipeline wave with permit approval | Public News Service — Mike Moen (12/13/2024)

Commission approves Minnesota’s first carbon-capture pipeline. Its future hinges on the Dakotas. | The Minnesota Star Tribune — Walker Orenstein (12/12/2024)

Minnesota regulators approve controversial pipeline | KARE 11 — Naasir Akailvi & Jessica Hart (12/12/2024)

PUC grants long-awaited permit for carbon capture pipeline | Minnesota Reformer — Christopher Ingraham (12/12/2024)

Summit carbon project would be reassessed if tax credits repealed, attorney says | Reuters — Leah Douglas (12/12/2024)

Environmental group calls for tighter water permit for coal plant that spilled next to rice beds | The Minnesota StarTribune — Chloe Johnson (12/10/2024)

$2B North Dakota CCS project delayed as energy company exits | E&E News by Politico — Carlos Anchondo (12/02/2024)

Local ag leaders Falk and Hatlestad honored by Minnesota Farmers Union | West Central Tribune (11/29/2024)

Silver Rapids developers hand in their permits | The TimberJay — Catie Clark (11/14/2024)

Summit pipeline decision in Minnesota could come Dec. 12 | North Dakota Monitor — Jeff Beach (11/11/2024)

Judge finds carbon pipeline proposal adequate and recommends route permit be issued | Fergus Falls Daily News (11/8/2024)

Pipeline Predicaments – Old and New | River Radio // Marine Community Library — Jim Maher & Gayle Knutson (11/02/2024)

CURE director advocates for environment, rural voices in Minnesota political sphere | West Central Tribune — Levi Jones (10/22/2024)

Changes made to major pipeline through North Dakota and Minnesota, but a vote looms large | Wahpeton Daily News — John Anderson (10/08/2024)

“New ERA” to leverage $29 Billion to propel a Just Transition for rural communities | Resilience — Tom Llewellyn (09/24/2024)

What is the value of water? | High Plains Reader — Clovis Curl & Peg Furshong (09/19/2024)

Minnesota Secretary of State hoping for high turnout, low drama | West Central Tribune — Tom Cherveny (09/13/2024)

MN Secretary of State, Steve Simon in Granite Falls to encourage area Minnesotan’s to “Get Out the Vote” | Montevideo American News — Jessica Stolen-Jacobson (09/04/2024)

Lake County board denies EAW petition | Ely Timberjay — Catie Clark (08/29/2024)

Minnesota farm country debates what could be the state’s first carbon-capture pipeline | Minnesota Star Tribune — Walker Orenstein and Christopher Vondracek (08/28/2024)

Summit pipeline segment enters final permitting stages in Minnesota | North Dakota Monitor — Jeff Beach (08/01/2024)

A company wanted to store carbon under US forests; it may get its wish | Floodlight — Pam Radtke (07/26/2024)

Does carbon-free mean carbon-neutral? Activists, industry fight over details in new Minnesota energy law | Sahan Journal — Andrew Hazzard (07/25/2024)

Minnesota wants to be carbon-free by 2040, but it still hasn’t decided what that means | Star Tribune — Walker Orenstein (07/19/2024)

Minneapolis is on the leading edge of biochar, a carbon sequestering material full of promise and still under research | StarTribune — Susan Du (07/14/2024)

N.D.’s Burgum says ‘unconstitutional’ Minn. climate law must allow CCS | E&E News by Politico / EnergyWire — Jeffrey Tomich (07/10/2024)

Could other exceptions come with MN’s new carbon-free law? | Public News Service — Mike Moen (06/19/2024)

Lawmakers pass reforms to cut red tape for clean energy projects | Minnesota Public Radio — Kirsti Marohn (05/23/2024)

What is the value of water? | Context News // Thompson Reuters Foundation — Carey Biron (05/23/2024)

What is the value of water? | StarTribune — Walker Orenstein (04/25/2024)

Climate Group discusses Minnesota’s nuclear moratorium | The Ely TimberJay — Catie Clark (04/24/2024)

CO2 pipeline proposed across the Upper Midwest | Agate — Stephanie Hemphill (04/19/2024)

Commentary: This license plate will strengthen solar’s social license in Minnesota | Energy News Network — Arlo Hark (04/16/2024)

Electrifying Democracy in Rural America | Barn Raiser — Joel Bleifuss & Justin Perkins (04/10/2024)

Community concerns about state of MN River | KEYC News Now — Kyla Jackson (03/25/2024)

Public waters, C02 pipeline impacts and more subjects of water town hall | Mankato Free Pres — Holly Marie Moore (03/23/2024)

Hatlestad to help implement Empower Rural America program with new USDA role | West Central Tribune (02/16/2024)

EVs make a showing at Ely festival | Ely Timber Jay — Catie Clark (02/14/2024)

Xcel proposes 3.6 GW renewables, 600 MW storage in Midwest but spurs concerns with gas plans | Utility Dive — Robert Walton (02/05/2024)

Electric vehicle ‘Ride and Drive’ event held in Ely | Northern News Now — Jeffery McClure (02/03/2024)

Work group on clean fuel standard proposes lowering ambitious emissions targets | MinnPost — Mohamed Ibrahim (02/02/2024)

Group suggests making refineries pay to cut greenhouse gases from cars and trucks | Star Tribune — Chloe Johnson (02/01/2024)

Advisory group says Legislature’s green energy ambitions may need to be scaled back | Minnesota Reformer — Christopher Ingraham (02/01/2024)

A pipeline for cow gas draws environmental support, ag concentration concerns | Star Tribune — Christopher Vondracek (01/31/2024)

 Great River Energy adding fuel oil capacity to Cambridge gas plant to use during big weather events | StarTribune — Walker Orenstein (11/09/2023)

Plan to convert Cambridge gas plant to burn diesel gets OK | Minnesota Public Radio – Kirsti Mahron (11/09/2023)

Groundwater is still contaminated months after a BNSF derailment in Minnesota. No one told the town. | KSTP – Ryan Raiche (11/08/2023)

Millions in federal wildlife grants unlocked for DNR after agency flagged for noncompliance | Star Tribune — Tony Kennedy (10/04/2023)

CURE & Sierra Club Criticize DOE’s Poor Analysis Of Project Tundra | Carbon Herald — Violet George (09/25/2023)

CO2 pipelines rejected by regulators in the Dakotas, putting Minnesota status in limbo | StarTribune — Christopher Vondracek (09/07/2023) 

Minnesota regulators push Summit carbon dioxide pipeline forward to environmental review | StarTribune — Christopher Vondracek (08/31/2023) 

Summit Carbon environmental study limited to 2 Minnesota counties | AgWeek (08/31/2023) 

Minnesota regulators vote to proceed with environmental review of disputed carbon capture pipeline | Associated Press — Steve Karnowski (08/31/2023) 

Eminent domain laws are splitting Midwest landowner attitudes toward CO2 pipelines | Star Tribune — Christopher Vondracek (08/17/2023)

Inject carbon under U.S. forest land? Federal government is considering allowing it. | Star Tribune — Jennifer Bjorhus (08/15/2023)

Denied: Proposed CO2 pipeline finds resistance in North Dakota | Fergus Falls Daily Journal — James Allen (08/10/2023)

New Twist in Regional Carbon Pipeline Plan Felt in MN | Public News Service — Mike Moen (08/09/2023)

$22 million withheld from Minnesota DNR until it proves wildlife priority before logging | Star Tribune — Tony Kennedy (08/08/2023)

Plan to convert Cambridge natural gas plant to burn diesel gets pushback | Minnesota Public Radio – Kirsti Mahron (06/20/2023)

Without eminent domain, Summit pipeline route in Minnesota looks different | Alexandria Echo Press – Jeff Beach (5/3/2023)

Letter: North Dakota must seize opportunity to lead the clean energy economy | Fargo Forum (InForum) — Duane Ninneman (4/21/2023)

Minnesota group files appeal on Summit Carbon pipeline environmental review | AgWeek – Jeff Beach (2/27/2023)

Minnesota should resist pressure from North Dakota coal lobby to weaken climate legislation | MinnPost — Duane Ninneman (01/25/2023)

Farmer, attorney promote carbon pipeline mitigation agreements | Marshall Independent – Fritz Busch  (1/25/2023)

‘Carbon Express’ pipeline runs into skepticism in Minnesota farm country | Star Tribune – Jennifer Bjorhus (1/24/2023)

Minnesota regulators vote to require environmental impact statement for CO2 pipeline | Star Tribune – Mike Hughlett (1/5/2023)

PUC requires environmental review for first proposed carbon pipeline in Minnesota | Minnesota Public Radio – Hannah Yang (1/5/2023)

CURE applauds PUC decision requiring environmental review for CO2 pipeline but troubled by limited scope | CURE – Anne Borgendale (1/5/2023)

Summit Carbon pipeline on Minnesota PUC agenda; including scope of environmental review | Ag Week – Jeff Beach (1/5/2023)

Scope of environmental review an early issue for carbon pipelines in Minnesota | Ag Week – Jeff Beach (11/4/2022)

Proposed CO2 pipelines are bad for Minnesota | MINNPOST –  Maggie Schuppert & Anne Borgendale  (10/12/2022)

CO2 pipeline proposal draws mixed reactions in SW Minn. | Minnesota Public Radio –  Hannah Yang  (9/23/2022)

Rural Electric Co-ops Get a ‘Downpayment’ on the Renewable Future | The Daily Yonder — Anya Slepyan (9/19/2022)

Rural electric co-ops see new opportunity in Inflation Reduction Act | Times Union — Lissa Harris (9/14/2022)

Rural Energy Is Especially Dirty and in Debt. Enter the Inflation Reduction Act | The New Republic — Kate Aronoff (9/1/2022)

For southeast Minnesota’s rural electric co-ops, Inflation Reduction Act funding will level the playing field | Rochester Post Bulletin — Dene K. Dryden (8/25/2022)

New law provides $9.7 billion in clean energy funding for rural cooperatives | West Central Tribune — Tom Cherveny (8/21/2022)

New Federal Climate Bill Renews Hope for MN Groups | Public News Service – Mike Moen (8/16/2022)

CURE working with landowners concerned about proposed pipeline | West Central Tribune –  Tom Chervney  (7/30/2022)

Concerned about Summit Carbon Solutions proposed CO2 pipeline & shady tactics brings landowners together | CURE (7/29/2022)

MN Nears Next Step in Regulating Underground Carbon Pipelines | Ag Week – Mike Moen (6/10/2022)

Electric co-ops are well situated to lead the green energy transition, report finds | Shareable — Robert Raymond (5/31/2022)

Minnesota moves to regulate carbon dioxide pipelines | Minnesota Public Radio — Dan Gunderson (5/19/2022)

Bushmills Ethanol of Atwater partners with Summit Carbon Solutions to reduce carbon emissions | West Central Tribune – Jennifer Kotila (4/15/2022)

Drive for carbon pipeline easements underway in west central Minnesota  | AgWeek – Tom Cherveny  (4/13/2022)

Carbon pipeline panelist says to ‘rethink’ easement compensation  | Post Bulletin – Jeff Beach (3/8/2022)

Duane Ninneman commentary: Who wins and who loses with CO2 pipelines? | CURE (3/3/2022)

Some rural co-ops embrace renewable energy, keep rates flat | Minnesota Public Radio — Kirsti Mahron (1/19/2022)

The pipeline project is in very preliminary stages, but the proposed path covers land in Minnesota, with a leg of the pipeline running through Otter Tail County (OTC) just north of Fergus Falls.  The Daily Journal – Mary Bethel Olson (01/04/2022)

Minnesota will consider regulating CO2 pipelines, including one in Otter Tail County  | Echo Press –(12/21/2021)

West central Minnesota counties are along proposed path of $4.5B carbon capture pipeline | West Central Tribune (11/24/2021)

The clean energy transformation must include rural communities — Opinion | Minnesota Reformer – Anne Borgendale (9/23/2021)

Company proposes carbon capture project that would include Granite Falls Energy, other Minnesota ethanol plants | West Central Tribune (08/26/2021)

Dueling demonstrations have become a weekly fixture in Appleton, Minn. | Star Tribune– John Reinan (8/17/2020)

Great River Energy’s plans to replace coal with wind power means changes for many rural Minnesota power cooperatives | West Central Tribune — Carolyn Lange (5/07/2020)

Hey senators: Don’t presume to speak for all rural Minnesotans. We want electric cars and hybrids, too | Minnesota Reformer — Anne Borgendale (3/2/2020)

Report Charts Pathway for Rural Clean Energy | Public News Service — Roz Brown (07/03/2019)

More than 100 people turn out to paddle length of Minnesota River | Bring Me The News — BMTN Staff (6/15/2015)

On the Minnesota River, ‘paddling theater’ offers entertainment and adventure | Minnesota Pubic Radio — Ackerman + Gruber (5/19/2013)

Arts economy rises on the southwest prairie | Minnesota Pubic Radio — Jennifer Vogel (3/6/2013)

Theater as small town therapy | Minnesota Pubic Radio — Jennifer Vogel (2/5/2013)

Reaching sustainability in Minnesota, one city at a time | MinnPost — Gregg Aamot (7/16/2012)

Proposal approved for controversial granite quarry | Minnesota Pubic Radio — Mark Steil (5/1/2012)

Minneapolis art students share ideas with a small city | Minnesota Pubic Radio — Dave Peters (3/1/2012)

Commentary: Energy — Why ownership matters | The Land — Patrick Moore and Duane Ninneman (7/3/2008)

South Dakota power plant worries Minnesota residents | Minnesota Pubic Radio — Mark Steil (4/4/2006)

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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 American Swedish Institute. Kelsey enjoys experimenting in the kitchen, canning local produce, and making kombucha.