The media is now working overtime to rewrite the context of Harris-Waltz's ticket. As all eyes turn to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate, they have their work cut out for them. [emphasis, links added]
Get ready for a new, sophisticated version of Waltz, in which he plays a moderate, pro-worker Midwesterner meant to balance Kamala's left-liberalism.
But that's not the case for Walz, as U.S. steelworkers, their families and the communities around the Twin Metals Mine in northeastern Minnesota know all too well.
Northeastern Minnesota is rich in strategically important metals that are critical components of our modern lives.
There is an area known as the Duluth Complex, and according to the U.S. Geological Survey, It has the world's largest undeveloped nickel, cobalt and platinum group minerals (PGM) deposits.
Bimetal Mine is uniquely positioned as a state-of-the-art underground operation within the Duluth complex, using advanced and precise extraction methods to deliver these much-needed metals to growing markets.
Given that these metals are key components in cell phones and cars (both gas-powered and electric) as well as solar panels and windmills, The location of these minerals should be good news in the United States.
This is especially true for an administration like the Biden-Harris administration, which is hell-bent on restructuring our entire utility and auto industries to make them more “green.”
From a practical point of view, This type of reorganization would require large quantities of minerals located in bimetallic mines and easily accessible.
Globally, one estimate suggests that to meet electrification targets, the world will need The amount of copper produced in the next 25 years is equivalent to the amount of copper produced by humanity in the past 5,000 years.
Unfortunately, the Biden-Harris administration not only canceled two long-term mineral leases at the Twin Metals mine, but also imposed a 20-year moratorium on surrounding areas.
This decision jeopardizes 750 direct jobs and 1,500 induced jobs in surrounding communities that the mine would have supported.
Many of the jobs are for the United Steelworkers, who will build and operate the $1.7 billion mine.
The Biden-Harris administration often talks about creating green energy jobs, but they have taken many actions that eliminate jobs that do exist.
Waltz witnessed the entire disaster. When Bimetal and local employment groups asked for a lifeline following the Biden-Harris cancellation, he answered with… more process!
Specifically, Walz's Department of Natural Resources (DNR) allows the mine to explore for minerals on surrounding state and private lands, but It reiterated that no actual mining would take place and that such a decision would likely come years later after “lengthy environmental reviews and permitting.”
In other words: this is project analysis paralysis.
These canceled mining projects and work will be performed in compliance with U.S. safety and environmental standards. Instead, China will benefit from Biden’s cancellation of Harris and Walz’s complacency.
In addition to concerns about negative environmental impacts, some reports have found that forced child labor is used in the extraction of foreign minerals.
From a national security perspective, This anti-development approach is equally destructive as America's dependence on foreign minerals continues to grow.
Specifically, in terms of Twin Metals' mineral-rich minerals, U.S. import dependence is more than 50% for nickel, 79% for platinum, 76% for cobalt, and 37% for copper.
Those who have observed Walz’s work up close, including Republican Rep. Pete Stauber, have sounded the alarm about the consequences of his anti-mining, anti-energy policies. Under his leadership, Minnesota residents’ electric bills have soared.
Tim Walz's record:
– Issue driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants so they can vote
– Wants Minnesota to become a sanctuary state for illegal immigrants
– $19B budget surplus wasted
– Taxes increased by $10B
– A spending spree with Minnesota taxpayer dollars that increases spending… pic.twitter.com/8GgAGMO4um— Pete Stauber (@RepPeteStauber) August 6, 2024
For businesses, the situation is even worse. Minnesota now has the highest industrial electricity prices in the Midwest.
Waltz's folksy appearance aside, his California-style climate fervor is taken to the extreme.
He signed an agreement in the state to achieve “100% carbon-free electricity by 2040”, which is expected to cost billions of dollars and double the price of electricity by 2034, leading to blackouts and the loss of jobs.
He also wants to ban gas-powered cars in the process.
Waltz’s aggressive anti-development approach, especially on energy and the environment, mirrors the approach of failed socialist states. It's no wonder Minnesota has experienced significant failure under his leadership.
No matter how the media portrays him, nothing can erase his record of selling out bimetal miners to the liberal left.
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