May 24, 2011, Juneau, Alaska - Governor Sean Parnell today stepped up his efforts to engage the federal government in developing Alaska’s rare earth resources. Responding to a U.S. Department of Energy request for information on the use of rare earth minerals in the energy sector, the governor submitted comments detailing how rare earth elements (REE) produced from Alaska can be part of a strong national security and research framework.
“Rare earth minerals are critical to our economy, military, and particularly important to renewable energy development,” Governor Parnell said. “While I appreciate the most recent response from Secretary Salazar to my inquiries that the USGS will begin a nationwide survey of rare earth deposits in 2013, I would like to see the USGS participating now with the State of Alaska in the statewide inventory that the Department of Natural Resources will start conducting this summer.”
China, which provides 97 percent of the world’s supply of rare earths, recently warned the United States and other countries to find their own supplies because China needs its rare earth minerals for its own use. Alaska has tremendous rare earth potential. The State of Alaska is moving ahead with a multi-year inventory process of areas in Alaska with rare earth potential. The governor included funding for a rare earth inventory in Alaska in his capital budget.
“With over 70 potential REE sites, Alaska is in a position to provide significant amounts of REEs to the nation,” Governor Parnell wrote to Energy Secretary Steven Chu. “The federal government simply cannot afford to sit on the sidelines as other countries move aggressively to develop new mines and build a globally competitive research branch.”
Source: Office of the Governor
No comments:
Post a Comment