A rare earth element and critical mineral industry could be a big deal for West Virginia. But so far, there are some big questions that need asked and answered if the state is going to avoid repeating past industrial mistakes.

https://mountainstatespotlight.org/2022/04/04/rare-earth-industry-met-with-excitement-wariness/

Mountain State Spotlight

WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE

A possible new industry for West Virginia raises some old questions

Proponents say rare earth elements and critical minerals could be a big deal for WV. But industries like coal, and what they’ve done for and to the state, provide reason for caution.

by Douglas Soule
April 4th, 2022

West Virginia lawmakers spent hours before and during the most recent legislative session eyeing measures to attract another extractive industry to the state. This time, the target is rare earth elements and critical minerals: resources necessary for high-tech devices.

Paul Ziemkiewicz of West Virginia University’s Water Research Institute has been developing a process to extract the material —like cerium and yttrium — potentially turning the state’s legacy coal pollution into a financial windfall. ... “There’s nothing else like this in the world,” he told lawmakers in September, touting his method to extract the rare earth elements from acid mine drainage.

Lawmakers reacted. They introduced bills to clarify who can profit from the treated pollution, to exempt rare earth minerals and critical minerals from severance taxes and to provide tax breaks for rare earth material and critical mineral products. ... But they didn’t spend much time talking publicly about whether opening the state’s doors to the rare earth element industry could backfire, creating some of the economic and environmental problems West Virginians are all too familiar with. ... “Those are some of the considerations I think have to be made before we buy into the newest miracle that we found that’s going to resolve all our problems and give us all jobs and create a great economy,” said Cindy Rank, a longtime leader of the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy.

Ultimately, only one of the bills was approved by lawmakers and was signed into law by Gov. Jim Justice. But the industry’s proponents say they’re planning to try again next year. ... “I do think that, looking forward, the sky is the absolute limit,” said Delegate Riley Keaton, R-Roane.

{snip}