Prospects for American cobalt: Reactions to mine proposals in Minnesota and Idaho

Abstract

Cobalt is a critical mineral for electric vehicles and the transition to renewable energy. There is increasing interest in developing U.S. production of cobalt, given that 70 % of mine production is in the Democratic Republic of Congo and 76 % of refinery production is in China, provoking geopolitical, supply chain, and environmental, social, and governance concerns. This paper focuses on the two leading prospective regions for U.S. cobalt production, in Minnesota and Idaho. Our central aim is to understand why reactions to mining proposals have been divergent, with polarized, intractable debates that have stalled projects in Minnesota while proposed mines in Idaho have advanced with minimal controversy. We summarize the geology and mining methods of each project before analyzing similarities and differences in responses, organizing our analysis around facets of environment, identity and legitimacy, politics, and economy. We find that many of the same dynamics are at play, differing in intensity and extent rather than being fundamentally distinct. The sites share many characteristics, including history of mining, proximity to wilderness, and economies rooted in both mining and recreation. Differentiating factors include the proximity of a large urban constituency in Minnesota with no parallel in Idaho, and smaller scale of mining proposals in Idaho.