American Mining: Americans Believe It. Alaskans Can Achieve It!

March 2, 2021

News earlier this week that polling from the National Mining Association showed Americans heavily in favor of mining projects in America, not only to create jobs and secure our supply chains, but also to reduced reliance on foreign countries for minerals.  As reported in AKHeadlamp.com, some of the highlights of the study show:

• 87 percent of voters believe that, within the President’s “Buy American” initiative, it is important that the material supply chains many industries depend on – such as copper or lithium for electric vehicles – are also sourced from the U.S.
• 88 percent of voters believe it is important for policymakers to focus on supporting responsible domestic mining here in the U.S. to create American jobs.
• 87 percent of voters believe it is important for policymakers to focus on supporting responsible domestic mining here in the U.S. to support U.S. economic recovery.
• 85 percent of voters believe it is important for policymakers to focus on supporting responsible domestic mining here in the U.S. to secure our supply chains.
• 84 percent of voters believe it is important for policymakers to focus on supporting responsible domestic mining here in the U.S. to reduce our reliance on foreign countries for mineral imports.
• 70 percent of voters are concerned that new land withdrawals currently being considered would occur at the same time that mineral demands are set to soar to support advanced technologies, forcing the United States to turn to geopolitical rivals for minerals we could be sourcing here at home.

With those results clearly showing Americans support American mining, it should be an exciting few years for Alaska’s mining projects and prospects.  Ucore, Pebble, the Ambler Mining District, Donlin and others dot our state’s landscape; each with the potential to produce one or more of the components noted above.  Mining American, rather than sourcing from overseas, is the way to enhanced supply chain and national security.

We hope the anti-development minority who feel empowered by the Biden administration are taking note.  Americans by and large disagree with your “leave-it-in-the-ground” philosophies.  There is too much at stake to follow your misguided attempts at further weakening our great country.