New interest in domestic mining comes with call for better sustainability

Protect the Porkies founder Tom Grotewohl speaks to protestors on the lawn of the Michigan Capitol in Lansing on Sept. 10. (Joe Lorenz photo)

Protestors and counter-protestors on the state Capitol lawn in Lansing. Signs read “Stop the whining, start the mining.” A group of counter-protestors in dress suits who support the Copperwood mine are confronted by protestors against the mine. (Joe Lorenz photo)

Protect the Porkies founder Tom Grotewohl speaks to protestors on the lawn of the Michigan Capitol in Lansing on Sept. 10. (Joe Lorenz photo)

LANSING – Electrification and tariffs mean rural Midwest communities can cash in on their mineral resources.

But how can these ventures balance local benefit to the ecological cost?

The market for domestic critical metals has gained momentum due t