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Critical Minerals Alaska 2020 / Policy


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  • Solar and wind electricity generation needs rare earths graphite tellurium

    High priority Alaska REE, graphite projects

    Shane Lasley, Mining News|Updated Dec 23, 2020

    Wind turbines, solar panels, and the batteries that store the electricity these renewable energy sources generate are creating new demands for an array of minerals and metals, many of which are not mined in the United States. Recognizing that mines lie at the front end of America's expanding renewable energy supply chains, federal officials have determined that critical mining projects must be eligible for Fast-41, a program established in 2015 to improve the timeliness,... Full story

  • USGS critical mineral supply chain risk tool methodology

    USGS sorts critical mineral hierarchy

    Shane Lasley, Mining News|Updated Dec 23, 2020

    When you consider the 17 rare earths and six platinum metals individually, more than 50 of the elements on the periodic table have been deemed critical to the economic wellbeing and security of the United States, a list that worries the White House and many policymakers in Washington, D.C. To sort the hierarchy of this expansive list, the U.S. Geological Survey has developed a tool that helps identify which mineral commodities lying at the crux of America's manufacturing... Full story

  • China US rare earths critical minerals trade strategies wars Chess graphic

    COVID exposes chink in US metal armor

    Shane Lasley, Mining News|Updated Dec 23, 2020

    In addition to dealing a major blow to the economy, the COVID-19 pandemic has shined a spotlight on a chink in the United States' economic and security armor – an overreliance on foreign countries for the minerals and metals that lie at the frontend of American supply chains. "The COVID-19 pandemic has shown how delicate our supply chains are and that should be a wakeup call for all of us," Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources Chair Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, said dur... Full story