Strategic That US Lead in Energy and Essential Minerals: Minnesota Congressman

Rep. Pete Stauber (R-Minn.) in an interview on NTD's Capitol Report on April 28, 2022. NTD/Screenshot via The Epoch Times

Proponents of an all-of-the-above energy strategy say the United States’ energy independence is being undermined by the current administration, and adversaries are profiting from the Biden administration’s energy policies.

With the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) currently controlling the mining of essential minerals and Russia exporting oil and gas around the world, lawmakers like Rep. Pete Stauber (R-Minn.), say we need to shift course and regain our position as an energy leader.

“We should have been paying close attention years ago. The communist country of China has the 100-year initiative, and what they want to do is own these minerals outright so other countries across the world would depend on them for these minerals,” Stauber told the host of NTD’s Capitol Report, Steve Lance, in a recent interview.

“It is strategically important for the United States of America to mine these minerals here, manufacture and refine them here so we’re not dependent on that foreign adversarial nation.”

Rare earths are 17 elements on the periodic table that are vital in many industries, including batteries, defense, and green technologies. Currently, China controls about 80 percent of the global rare earth supply and has previously cut off its exports as a retaliatory tactic against other countries.

“Critical minerals are really a strong foundation, and we need to secure that supply chain. The United States has to mine these minerals. These are God-given to us in our Earth. We can do it, and we do it better than anybody following the best environmental and labor standards.”

Stauber represents a district that is home to the Duluth Complex, which houses 95 percent of the United States’ nickel reserves and holds an abundance of other natural resources.

The congressman said the United States has the mineral resources but needs the political will in order to become a leader in mining these minerals by supporting U.S.-based companies. He praised Tesla founder Elon Musk for choosing a U.S. mining company in his home state for its mineral needs.

The eastern slope of the Santa Rita Mountains where Canadian firm Hudbay Minerals Inc. plans an open-pit copper mine near Arizona scenic state Highway 83, on May 12, 2019. Anita Snow, File/AP Photo

“[Elon Musk and Tesla] signed a contract with a mining company in northeastern Minnesota to buy the first 76,000 pounds of nickel for their batteries,” said Stauber. “So, Elon Musk understands, I believe, the value of the American worker and sourcing that ethically and responsibly, so we’re very happy with that.”

In January, Tesla Inc. signed its first U.S. nickel supply deal, choosing Talon Metals Corp’s Tamarack mine project in Minnesota because they will use a more environmentally friendly process.

Tesla chose Talon because of their “innovative approach to the discovery, development, and production of battery materials,” said Drew Baglino, senior vice president of Powertrain and Energy Engineering at Tesla, adding, “Responsible sourcing of battery materials has long been a focus for Tesla, and this project has the promise to accelerate the production of sustainable energy products in North America.”

The United States was importing Russian oil as recently as March, but Stauber wants the Biden administration to produce that oil here by loosening restrictions on U.S. oil and gas companies.

“Yet this administration continues to put up roadblocks, and in fact, takes permits off the table from companies that have been trying to get permits for years.”

“I think that the focus should be on changing the policy, having the will, as the United States of America, to be energy dominant. … There are other nations that are allies of ours, that if we can be exporters of energy, we can help them grow and make their economy stronger,” said Stauber. “But we can’t allow Russia to control Europe’s energy and oil supplies.”

After Russia invaded Ukraine in March, the U.S. House overwhelmingly approved legislation that would ban Russian oil imports to the United States, an effort to put into law the restrictions announced earlier by President Joe Biden. More recently, European Union and the United States are working to reduce dependence on Russian energy.

The Biden administration’s answer to energy independence continues to be renewables. Biden reiterated his administration’s focus on renewables over all other forms of energy in March, saying this moment “should motivate us to accelerate the transition to clean energy.”