In the news today…
Electric Vehicles:
- Quartz reports that investments in electric vehicle and battery manufacturing are far outpacing investments in mining, with experts blaming permitting complications and EV companies’ failure to understand the depth of lithium demand.
Coal:
- Bloomberg Government reports coal miners sickened by black-lung disease need renewal of an income stream to help fund their disability benefits. Sen. Joe Manchin, a pivotal figure in the Biden administration’s contentious budget plans, is under pressure to deliver.
Minerals:
- E&E Energywire reports a group of automakers, battery manufacturers and lithium producers today announced the launch of a group aimed at shoring up the U.S. battery supply chain.
- E&E Daily reports a House Natural Resources hearing yesterday illustrated the tightrope Democrats are walking on when it comes to mining, with lawmakers calling for more resource extraction for the clean energy economy but moving to block one Minnesota project.
- Axios reports auto giants are joining with battery companies, EV startups and lithium producers in a new coalition seeking stronger federal support for building a large U.S. battery supply chain.
Mining:
- E&E Greenwire reports EPA today proposed a new veto of the Pebble mine in Alaska under the Clean Water Act, a rare move that would create permanent environmental protections for Bristol Bay fisheries.
World News:
- Mining.com reports permitting processes in Canada will need to be streamlined to match rising demand for minerals.