A Metals Company wants to open a nickel mine in Tamarack. Strange, right? But it actually makes sense (and cents) in the grand scheme of things. Of course, some people aren’t very happy about it for a few reasons.
Here’s Five Fast Facts on the Tamarack Nickel Mine:
- 🪙 Nickel? Why? - Nickel is an essential part of Electric Vehicle batteries. Since the demand for EV is growing, manufacturers need more nickel.
- ⛏️ That Little? - The US currently produces only 1% of the world’s nickel supply, and we’re currently relying on Russia, China, and Indonesia.
- ⚒️ Why Minnesota? - A metals company called Talon has started what they call the Tamarack Nickel-Copper-Cobalt Project. They drilled 500 test holes and found some of the world’s best nickel! Just one more way we’re better than Wisconsin!
- 🚰 Some Concerns - The proposed mine would be near Ojibwe Tribal Land and local homes. Both groups are very concerned about sulfuric acid runoff. Talon said the mineral would be processed off site, so there would be no concern. Because large multinational companies would never hurt tribal lands or nearby neighborhoods, right?
- 📄 Fine Print - Talon plans on opening the mine in 2026, with a proposed 300 new jobs. It should also be noted that Talon already has an agreement in place to supply Tesla with nickel.
🔥Bottom line: Picking a side in this one is probably a tough thing for some of our readers. We know a lot of you loathe EVs but you’re also big supporters of the Made-in-America economy. So what’s more important? The mining jobs or the fact that the mine will power EVs? Tree huggers or Tesla? Either way, expect a long fight over this one before it’s all settled.
What do you think about this?
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