Inside the race to unearth millions of tons of critical minerals — and snag billions of federal dollars
The Inflation Reduction Act could unlock more than $1 trillion in federal incentives. To give a clearer sense of the on-the-ground impact of the law, MIT Technology Review zeroed in on a single project: a nickel mining proposal in the Midwest. Here's how the potential mine is forcing the region’s residents to choose between achieving broad climate goals and preventing local environmental dangers. At stake is the future of the domestic supply of critical materials, and potentially $26 billion in government incentives.
PART I:
How the contentious path to a cleaner future runs through one rural Minnesota town
The world needs to dig up far more minerals to meet climate goals. But mining poses environmental dangers that are bitterly dividing communities.
PART II:
How one mine could unlock billions in EV subsidies
The Inflation Reduction Act is starting to transform the US economy. To understand how, we tallied up the potential tax credits available as the nickel from a single mine flows through the supply chain.
THE SPARK:
Casey Crownhart and James Temple on building a cleaner future
MIT Technology Review energy and climate reporters James Temple and Casey Crownhart go behind the story in this discussion about the implications of the proposed mine, the critical mineral supply it could unlock, and the billions of dollars at play.