Commentary: Maine has a golden opportunity to raise the bar for mining

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • November 21, 2023

Here come the miners! To meet EV demand, worldwide lithium production must at least quadruple by 2030. Maine is among a half-dozen states with potentially large lithium reserves. One deposit in Newry is estimated at 11 million tons of ore. Scientists have found other rare elements in northern Maine. How can we move toward a low-carbon future without making life worse in low-income countries? We should stop exporting environmental and social problems. We also need to admit that there are places where mining can be done well. In Maine, we have a golden opportunity to raise the bar for mining. ~ Robert Wasserstrom, PhD, worked in the international energy industry for 35 years