The Musk/Trump presidency and sulfide mining in Minnesota
This initial story about this issue isn’t intended to be comprehensive. I’m just noting the most obvious items, and I’ll be tracking this and writing more about it.
The most obvious matter is the Tamarack project, because shortly after it got going Elon Musk bought the rights to half the output, which is intended to be mostly nickel. It’s still in the permitting stages. I saw something about how they plan to be mining in 2026. Given what’s happened with similarly giddy projections on other sulfide mining proposals in the state I’d scoff at that, but with Musk’s involvement in the incoming administration, and indications that said administration and its congressional allies intend to be pretty lawless in getting what they want, I’m not scoffing.
It’s certainly possible, even somewhat probable, that Trump may finally realize how he’s being overshadowed, manipulated, and at times humiliated by the Dancing Dipshit, and put a boot in his behind. (Figuratively, of course. Given Trump’s physical and mental condition, it’s very doubtful that he could lift a foot off the ground and swing it onto someone’s ass without falling over, himself.) Or he may just remain Musk’s wretched lickspittle, indefinitely.
PolyMet is now part of NewRange Copper Nickel. They haven’t given up, and with Trump’s election they likely caught a break. But it’s still a long way from happening, at this time. I can readily picture execs at Glencore licking their pathologically greedy chops, though.
“It’s had multiple fatal wounds from the courts,” said Kathryn Hoffman, CEO of the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, one of several organizations and tribes opposed to the project.
“At this point, it’s a zombie. And the only entity really that hasn’t acknowledged that it’s dead in its current form is PolyMet itself.”
Just don’t tell that to employees of NewRange Copper Nickel, as the project is now called. (In December) workers there wrapped up what’s likely one of the largest salvage operations in state history, in preparation, they hope, to soon open a new mine.
(MPR)
This, also from Threatened Waters, has current information on where things are at and should be read in full.
I’m no expert on just how much power the federal government potentially has to override state courts and get these projects, and their ultimately disastrous impacts on Minnesota’s environment, moving along. I’ll read others’ speculation with interest and probably plenty of concern.
Comment from Joe Musich: I propose that Walz creates a copper recycling effort in NE Mn. The amount of copper recycled is hideously low at 30%. Those tac trains that huff outta there would not need to come back empty. Copper going there would have to come from authorized copper recycling locations only. Not salvage yards that could give two shits about recycling. Copper using industry favors recycling unlike those who mine. I suspect they would welcome investment in a dependable source. Just a thought that will likely never happen in the fantasy land we are entering.
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