The Future of Critical Minerals: Thought Leaders to Watch

In the first two parts in this series on critical minerals, we covered the basics - what they are, why they matter, and barriers for scaling. Now, it’s time for the most important part of the puzzle: what comes next, and who will play the biggest role in delivering the thought leadership needed to navigate the next decade in the clean energy transition.

Looking to the domestic future of critical minerals, decisions loom in areas such as permitting, supply, and standardized regulations for new mines. And any finite action will require a shift in public opinion around mining to allow for expanded efforts without significant stakeholder push back from local communities to the federal government. Only influential leaders will have the power to make change in the critical mineral industry and meet the moment for supplying the clean energy transition.

Influencers and thought leaders include mining company executives, clean energy advocates, and energy policy specialists and regulators. Looking to the future of domestic critical mineral policy, thought leaders on the subjective (!) list below may have a significant stake in implementing changes to the industry. 

Meet the Savvy Six

We selected six thought leaders to watch in public and private sector currently making and impact and influencing the direction of the industry: 

Tracy Stone-Manning, Director of the Bureau of Land Management 

The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for handling 245 million acres of public lands (1 in 10 acres in the United States) as well as 700 million acres of subsurface mineral estate. This makes the agency the largest land-holder in the country, with numerous mineral reserves under their domain. 

As Director, Tracy Stone-Manning has acted favorably both for expansion of mining and higher ESG regulations, testifying on positive developments with minerals in a Senate hearing for oversight of the BLM. Stone-Manning’s direction on critical mineral mining and subsequent land provision will have a large impact on capacity for upscaling domestic supply, and could easily make or break new projects proposed on public lands.

Catherine Cortez Masto, Senator (D-NV)

The Honorable Catherine Cortez Masto has proven to be a Congressional leader on the mining, critical minerals, and renewable energy front. With bipartisan support Cortez Masto recently sponsored the Mining Regulatory Clarity Act, which expands access to public lands for mining. However, it will be important to monitor how this law is implemented to ensure that mining companies do not abuse access to public lands by displacing recreational areas to dump mine tailings and other waste.

Cortez Masto is commendable for her willingness to act on the critical minerals front, but looking to the future, it’s imperative to consider environmental standards. Cortez Masto serves on the Senate’s Energy and Natural Resources committee and Indian Affairs committee, which places her in a position to advocate for critical mineral mining while maintaining respect for Native communities and environmental protection standards. 

Abby Seadler Wulf, Head of the American Battery Minerals Initiative

The American Battery Minerals Initiative, established in 2022 and co-managed by the White House and the Department of Energy, is part of the Biden administration’s campaign to incentivize the EV transition by strengthening critical mineral supply chains. As head of the initiative, Wulf will be responsible for coordinating government agencies, directing research and funding, and strengthening partnerships with the private sector– including local and Tribal governments, labor unions, and environmental leaders. She will be influential in the federal government’s approach to critical mineral sourcing and could open pathways to strengthen coordination between public and private interests.

Rich Nolan, CEO and Director of the National Mining Association

The National Mining Association (NMA) is a major mining trade organization that labels itself as one of the main voices for mining and mineral companies in the United States. As director and CEO, Rich Nolan manages the organization’s significant lobbying power and capability to influence new mining legislation– this will make the NMA a major actor in elections and policy drafting. During his tenure Nolan started an ESG committee within the association, which is promising as calls arise for higher mining standards; given the NMA’s poor track record with climate change action, though, the organization should be closely monitored to best influence future action.

Alexander Herrgott, Director of The Permitting Institute

As highlighted in the previous blog post, permitting delays is one of the main roadblocks to the establishment of domestic mines. As the director of The Permitting Institute (TPI), Alexander Herrgott has proven dedicated to shortening permitting timelines to allow for the faster rollout of large-scale energy projects while also respecting community and environmental concerns. Although TPI is not wholly focused on clean energy projects and works on both sides of the aisle, it is one of the largest permitting-focused organizations and may be one of the leading advocates to make permitting more efficient in coming years.  

Abigail Hunter, Executive Director of SAFE’s Center for Critical Minerals Strategy

The SAFE Center for Critical Minerals Strategy, founded in 2021 (by Abby Seadler Wulf, mentioned above), aims to secure the critical mineral supply chain in order to protect national and economic security during the green transition. In Fall 2023, the center partnered with the State Department in the Minerals Investment Network for Vital Energy Security and Transition (MINVEST); the program aims to incorporate private sector perspectives into U.S. policy and promote public-private dialogue in order to spur mining investments. In her position, Hunter has the power to guide conversations around critical minerals, appeal to national leaders, and direct new research in the field, making her one to watch.

Of note, are the following individuals and organizations growing influence and we look forward to hearing more from them in the year ahead: Chad Whiteman, Vice President of Environmental and Regulatory Affairs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Global Energy Institute; John Lushetsky, Senior Vice President at ML Strategies, LLC; Fatih Biroh, Director of the International Energy Agency; Megan O’Connor, Co-Founder and CEO at Nth Cycle; Sinead Kaufman, Chief Executive of Minerals at Rio Tinto; Michael Reed, Director of Technical and Environmental Division at the Loan Programs Office; Jeff Townsend, Founder of Critical Minerals Association; Tracy Hughes, Founder and Executive Director at Critical Minerals Institute. 

The Winds of Change: Creating an Equitable and Just Transition

There are multiple fronts from which to approach the issue of critical minerals. As the pressure rises for domestic critical mineral sourcing, it will be crucial to create a space for historically marginalized communities to voice their concerns and take part in the process of establishing new mines. Although streamlining permitting is important, it is equally pressing to create a power balance between developers and communities and avoid repeating history.

This is the time to build a more unified on-the-ground movement among local communities, mining ecosystems, and regulators in order to set firm environmental and social standards that guide future action. In order for the United States to achieve a sustainable, secure domestic critical mineral supply chain it will take a push of cooperative public-private action and leaders who are willing to help deliver on the clean energy transition.