There’s good reason that critical minerals have been front-and-center in domestic and global policy discussions lately. 

Critical minerals are essential to producing many of the irreplaceable modern technologies that we use every day, from cell phones to solar panels to sophisticated defense systems. These minerals are only becoming increasingly important as the need for electric cars, clean energy, defense technologies, artificial intelligence, and a host of other modern tools continues to ramp up.  

With critical minerals playing an important role in influencing the global supply chain for key goods, the U.S. is looking to boost its domestic critical minerals industry, and the West is poised to lead that effort.  

Consecutive presidential administrations have pushed for critical mineral production, including recent executive orders from President Trump aimed at boosting supply. 

The West is home to rich deposits of important critical minerals, and projects are underway across our region to safely and sustainably source these materials. 

In California, a massive lithium deposit was discovered under the Salton Sea in Imperial Valley. The deposit could supply enough lithium for 375 million electric car batteries, which could set the U.S. down a path toward self-sufficiency in the mineral that’s essential for batteries, cell phones, and other products.  

“We’re building a hub for global innovation while ensuring this transformation benefits communities right here in Imperial Valley,” said Governor Gavin Newsom during a visit to the site. “California is poised to become the world’s largest source of batteries, and it couldn’t come at a more crucial moment in our efforts to move away from fossil fuels. The future happens here first – and Lithium Valley is fast-tracking the world’s clean energy future.” 

Currently, the country’s only operational lithium mine is the Albemarle Silver Peak Mine in southwest Nevada. The Silver State could soon see a second lithium plant at Thacker Pass, which is under construction on what could be one of the largest lithium deposits in North America.  

In neighboring Arizona, the Hermosa project is the country’s only mining project capable of producing two federally designated critical minerals – zinc and manganese. Last year, the project received $2.16 billion in funding to develop its zinc-lead-silver deposit as well.  

Just last week, the Colorado-based company Big Blue Technologies announced plans to expand a pilot magnesium smelter that it operates in Wyoming. The plan would boost the plant’s production to 100 tons of magnesium annually, making it the largest magnesium production facility in North America. Magnesium is an essential material used in car batteries and other products.  

An important piece in spurring domestic critical mineral development has been speeding up the permitting process for these sites, including through the FAST-41 process, which aims to improve federal coordination and timeliness for environmental reviews to streamline permitting.  

In April, the Department of the Interior added key critical minerals projects to the FAST-41 program, including projects in Idaho, Oregon, Utah, and Nevada. A graphite mine in Alaska was also included under FAST-41 just this week. That same graphite mine also signed an agreement this week with the electric car company Lucid to supply graphite for the company’s car batteries.  

For more on Western Governors’ collective policy priorities on minerals, read WGA Policy Resolution 2022-08, National Minerals Policy.  

Govs talk energy in AK: this week, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham joined Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy in Anchorage for the Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference. The conference explored the future of energy in Alaska and across the country, with experts diving into everything from solar and hydro power to geothermal energy and the future of oil and gas.  

On Tuesday, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, joined the conference to discuss energy issues with Governor Dunleavy.  

In just over two weeks, join Governors Dunleavy and Lujan Grisham, as well as Secretary Burgum and Administrator Zeldin in Santa Fe for WGA’s 2025 Annual Meeting.  

New cancer research center: last month, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly attended the groundbreaking for a new Kansas University cancer research center in Kansas City. 

The new complex will bring cancer research and patient care together under one roof, promoting collaboration and innovative treatment to deliver the best patient care.  

“Today marks a pivotal moment in our efforts to address one of the greatest health challenges of our time: cancer,” said Roy Jensen, M.D., vice chancellor and director of KU Cancer Center. “This new center will unite researchers, clinicians, and patients side-by-side in one facility, supporting the real-time collaborations that are essential for groundbreaking discoveries. We intend to create a global destination for patient care and research.” 

Hawaii Green Fee: in Hawaii last week, Governor Josh Green signed into law the nation’s first climate impact fee, or “Green Fee,” to help leverage tourist spending to protect the local environment. 

The fee will be added to hotel stays, cruise ships, and other short-term visits, with the revenue going toward efforts to address the impacts of climate change and protect the local environment.  

“Today Hawaiʻi ushers in the first Green Fee in the nation. Once again, Hawaiʻi is at the forefront of protecting our natural resources, recognizing their fundamental role in sustaining the ecological, cultural, and economic health of Hawaiʻi. As an island chain, Hawaiʻi cannot wait for the next disaster to hit before taking action. We must build resiliency now, and the Green Fee will provide the necessary financing to ensure resources are available for our future,” said Governor Green. 

Aerial firefighting act: this week, the U.S. House approved legislation authorizing the Department of Defense to sell aircraft and equipment for wildfire suppression.

Sponsored by a suite of bipartisan western lawmakers, the bill will allow the Defense Department to sell critical equipment such as airtankers and other aircraft to fight fires more quickly and effectively.

The bill, which passed the Senate in April, now heads to the president’s desk to be signed into law.

Government-to-Government conference: in North Dakota this week, Governor Kelly Armstrong welcomed hundreds of attendees to the seventh Government-to-Government Conference, hosted by the North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission.  

The conference featured representation from the state’s five federally recognized tribal nations: Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara (MHA) Nation, Spirit Lake Nation, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, and Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Nation. 

“Events like this are key to providing education and fostering partnerships between tribal nations, state agencies, and federal partners,” Governor Armstrong said. “We’re all North Dakotans. We share our challenges and we share our successes. Working together, we can strengthen relationships, enhance collaboration, and increase understanding of tribal relations across all levels of government and industry.”