As part of its mission to promote responsible energy and mineral development, Unleash Utah celebrates a landmark legislative session for critical minerals in the Beehive State. Game-changing legislation is now on track to be signed by Gov. Spencer Cox:
- S.C.R. 9, which outlines the role of the Utah Minerals for Industrial, National, and Economic Security Center (MINES Center), emphasizes the need to secure U.S. critical mineral supply chains for energy development and national security, and calls on Utah’s Congressional delegation to work towards establishing a critical minerals national lab in Utah
- S.B. 254, which transforms Utah into a national critical minerals hub by authorizing $25.8M in funding for the MINES research center and a Critical Minerals Council, streamlining the permitting process through Critical Mineral Zones and parallel-track processing, and commissions a “Critical Minerals Atlas” to provide high-quality data on the state’s mineral resources.
Coupled with the DOMINANCE Act, which was introduced in Congress in January and builds critical mineral capacity with our allies, S.C.R. 9 and S.B. 254 represent a robust strategy to retake control of the materials at the foundation of modern technology, energy, and national security. They set Utah apart as the nation’s leader in critical mineral development and strategic competition with China.
Unleash Utah is grateful for the work of Sen. Ann Millner, a member of the Unleash Utah coalition, for her leadership in sponsoring both of these pieces of legislation.
Critical minerals are raw materials that are essential to modern technology and national security yet face significant risks of supply chain disruption. The United States is 100 percent import-reliant for 12 critical minerals and more than 50 percent import-reliant for another 29. Utah is uniquely positioned to help change that reality, hosting deposits of 50 of the 60 minerals on the U.S. Geological Survey’s critical minerals list.
Critical minerals are a policy priority for Unleash Utah as they are central to the development of new energy technologies.
Ann Millner, Utah State Senator Representing District 5: “Building secure critical mineral supply chains at home ensures Utah is not dependent on foreign adversaries for the materials it needs to develop advanced energy technologies in an era of increased demand. The future of energy is really dependent on the future of minerals.”
Bryson Hinkins, Owner of Hinkinite Resources: “Utah has everything we need to be the nation’s hub for critical minerals: geology, industry expertise, infrastructure, and a pro-America, pro-business working environment. The MINES Center is more than just another institution— it’s the foundation for making Utah the place where American mineral innovation happens.”
Andrew Sandstrom, Executive Director of Unleash Utah: “Every advanced energy technology we’re counting on—nuclear, batteries, grid storage, carbon capture, and more—runs on critical minerals. When we don’t produce those minerals here, mining and processing move to places with much weaker environmental standards, like China. Not only is that terrible for the earth, it means we don’t control our energy future. These pieces of legislation will help put America back in charge.”
Unleash Utah is a coalition of business leaders, elected officials, and emerging conservative voices committed to making Utah the nation’s leader in energy abundance, innovation, and environmental stewardship. Learn more at www.unleashutah.org.
