Are we about to see a mining boom for EV minerals in the West?

Jan 26, 2023

Mining expert Ian Lange joins Kate and Aaron to talk about critical minerals and mining in the West. Lange directs the mineral and energy economics program at the Colorado School of Mines and is an expert in mining economics. He discusses what’s going on in the world of critical minerals—specifically those used in electric vehicle batteries. These include cobalt, copper, lithium, and nickel and are mostly mined overseas, but we do have some of them here in the U.S. And we could see a big increase in domestic mining for them thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, which included subsidies aimed at stimulating mining at home.

*This episode is the first in a two-part series on mining in the West. The next episode will air in approximately two weeks and feature mining reform advocates.

News

  • Biden bans roads and logging in Alaska’s Tongass National Forest – New York Times
  • Fact-checking 3 claims about the GOP oil bill and White House response – Washington Post
  • U.S. energy chief says Biden would veto House Republican bill on oil reserve – Reuters
  • Progress report: President Biden’s second year on public lands – Center for Western Priorities

Credits

Hosts: Kate Groetzinger & Aaron Weiss

Feedback: podcast@westernpriorities.org

Music: Purple Planet

Featured image: Ken Lund, Flickr