St. Paul, Minn. (March 31, 2022) – Jobs for Minnesotans released the below statement following today’s announcement from the White House that President Biden will invoke the Defense Production Act (DPA) to secure American production of critical minerals in order to bolster the country’s clean energy economy and reduce reliance on China and other countries:
“Jobs for Minnesotans is pleased with President Biden’s announcement today. This is a step in the right direction to bring the sourcing and processing of these minerals home, which will have a positive impact on national security, global environmental protections and investment and jobs in our country. This action proves that domestic mining must be part of the solution to securing mineral supply and achieving carbon emission reduction goals.
“We hope this change in policy is reflected in all aspects of securing the supply chain for these critical minerals. While this action encourages investment in our country, we cannot build more electric vehicles, solar or wind farms without a transparent, predictable and timely regulatory process for proposed mining projects.
“Northeast Minnesota holds the vast majority of U.S. reserves for cobalt, nickel and platinum group metals, with a strong mining heritage and union workforce. We strongly urge the President and his administration to also rescind the mineral withdrawal proposal in the Superior National Forest currently under review, and reinstate Twin Metals Minnesota’s valid mineral leases. As prime examples in Minnesota alone, both of these recent actions are contradictory to the DPA announced today.
“President Biden detailed the DPA will be authorized to support the production and processing of minerals and materials used for large capacity batteries–such as nickel, cobalt —minerals needed for green energy technologies and found in northeast Minnesota. The Department of Defense will implement this authority using its environmental, labor, community, and tribal consultation standards, which are the strongest in the world.”
About Jobs for Minnesotans
Jobs for Minnesotans, a coalition representing business, labor and communities, supports statewide opportunities for prosperity and middle-class jobs from sustainable natural resource development in Minnesota. The organization is committed to the principle that our state can preserve both job opportunities and the environment for future generations. Jobs for Minnesotans was co-founded in 2012 by the Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council representing 70,000 workers and the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce representing 2,300 members and 500,000 employees. For more information, visit jobsforminnesotans.org, follow @JobsforMN on Twitter and find the coalition on Facebook.com/Jobs4MN.
###
Media Contact: Brian Hanson, Board Chair
brian@apexgetsbusiness.com
218.730.7330