Frank Ongaro is executive director of Mining Minnesota, which is a group working with local citizens, businesses and other organizations to bring growth and job creation to the state through responsible development of natural resources.
But this simply isn’t a fair or accurate portrayal of the issues at hand. We are all environmentalists and we all enjoy the beauty and serenity of Minnesota’s wilderness. Our state has a lot to offer outdoor enthusiasts, and with a population above 3.5 million, there are many people who call Minnesota home who have an interest in protecting the outdoors for future generations.
A majority of these 3.5 million individuals also need jobs — jobs that support their families and provide opportunities for future generations of Minnesotans. Thankfully, we can have both — the environment and mining have coexisted for more than 130 years and with modern technologies, will continue to do so as we expand the state’s rich mining tradition.
Mining copper, nickel, platinum and palladium from one of the world’s largest, untapped source of these strategic metals in Minnesota’s Duluth Complex will provide thousands of high-quality jobs in a range of sectors, as well as the metals we all need for the growing green economy. Wind turbines and solar equipment require copper. Electric cars and rechargeable batteries use nickel and copper. The autocatalysts in cars require platinum and palladium.
The same individuals who espouse a constant mantra against copper-nickel mining, initially paddling a canoe, boarded a 27-foot sailboat to deliver their anti-mining message to this country’s capital. A sailboat filled with metals – from the rails, masts and pulleys to the GPS systems that guided their journey — and kept them safe. Along the way, they communicated their progress with phones and laptops — all of which require strategic metals to operate.
For the rest of this column, click here: http://www.virginiamn.com/opinion/columnists/good-environment-good-jobs-we-can-have-both/article_af0620b8-88bc-11e4-a95c-2f476453b73e.html