It'll be interesting to see how this plays out. It's not obvious to us that EV enthusiasts have properly calculated the resistance to mining in the U.S. Especially not at the scale necessary to shift large percentages of U.S. miles traveled to electricity.
Mining was built for the fastest extraction of resources at the lowest possible cost, and the tradeoffs were worker lives and environmental damage. Just as mine safety has progressed over the last 100+ years (Bureau of Mines, Coal Act, Mine Act, MINER Act, etc.), so should environmental protection be an inherent part of resource extraction. Responsible mining that minimizes and remediates damage to the environment is possible. Ideally, industry groups would hold themselves to a high standard and resource companies would act as responsible stewards of the environment where they work. More likely, legislation and government oversight will be needed, and conservation groups will have to hold public officials accountable. In Alabama, that is a constant fight, often taken to the courts. But the tension between development and conservation is a healthy thing--the question isn't either/or, but how we can satisfy both.
Agreed! (The poll here lacks any grey area, obviously, but I was curious to see which pole readers would choose.) I'll be curious what the environmental studies show, particularly about endangered species, but I'm not sure we'll find an environmentally *better* place to mine graphite, so the fight is very much going to be over ensuring the process in Alabama is as clean as possible.
ongoing battle over a "mine to be" on the ridge of the Okefenokee Swamp bears watching. The Current of Savannah is doing good work here. They have struggled to get permitting, but I doubt the struggle will last forever.
It'll be interesting to see how this plays out. It's not obvious to us that EV enthusiasts have properly calculated the resistance to mining in the U.S. Especially not at the scale necessary to shift large percentages of U.S. miles traveled to electricity.
Great article!
Mining was built for the fastest extraction of resources at the lowest possible cost, and the tradeoffs were worker lives and environmental damage. Just as mine safety has progressed over the last 100+ years (Bureau of Mines, Coal Act, Mine Act, MINER Act, etc.), so should environmental protection be an inherent part of resource extraction. Responsible mining that minimizes and remediates damage to the environment is possible. Ideally, industry groups would hold themselves to a high standard and resource companies would act as responsible stewards of the environment where they work. More likely, legislation and government oversight will be needed, and conservation groups will have to hold public officials accountable. In Alabama, that is a constant fight, often taken to the courts. But the tension between development and conservation is a healthy thing--the question isn't either/or, but how we can satisfy both.
Agreed! (The poll here lacks any grey area, obviously, but I was curious to see which pole readers would choose.) I'll be curious what the environmental studies show, particularly about endangered species, but I'm not sure we'll find an environmentally *better* place to mine graphite, so the fight is very much going to be over ensuring the process in Alabama is as clean as possible.
ongoing battle over a "mine to be" on the ridge of the Okefenokee Swamp bears watching. The Current of Savannah is doing good work here. They have struggled to get permitting, but I doubt the struggle will last forever.
I caught Janisse Ray's story on this, but this is a good reminder to keep an eye on it.
https://bittersoutherner.com/sponsored/selc/okefenokee-heavy-and-precious-janisse-ray
yup, saw that one too.