In the push to transition from fossil fuels to greener energy, a key piece of the puzzle is accessing materials to help accelerate the technological shift — namely, rare earth elements.
The group of 17 metallic elements has the potential to be a key economic driver for countries mining and processing them. They are crucial for building components for everything from wind turbines and electric-vehicle batteries to cell phones and other products.
But they also come with lingering questions over the short- and long-term environmental impacts associated with the mining process.
This will play out like oil & natural gas has. “Environmental concerns” will via economy killing legislation be able to initiate lengthy and expensive delays rendering virtually any new project dead from the word go.
Other nations will eat our lunch and dinner.
Justin and the CBC will be happy.
