Rare earth metals, elements found in the earth’s crust, are highly critical components in a vast range of goods, including cancer treatment drugs, solar and wind energy, consumer electronics, and national defense applications. The National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA) will outline Congressional options for expanding rare earth production and cutting America’s reliance on China in a Capitol Hill briefing Friday, September 26 in Washington, D.C.
Media invited to attend. A light lunch will be served.
At the briefing, the NCPA will release two new studies on rare earths and their impacts on national defense, the economy and the environment – Critical Minerals: Rare Earths and the U.S. Economy and The Potential of Thorium for Safer, Cleaner and Cheaper Energy.
While the U.S. was once self-sufficient in its production and processing of rare earths, inefficient permitting processes and overregulation have left our own considerable rare earths supply untouched. Instead, over 90 percent of American rare earth imports come from China, leaving significant portions of our economy at risk.
The briefing will feature several experts from the rare earth field, including Kevin Cassidy of U.S. Rare Earths, Printus LeBlanc from the Office of Rep. Steve Stockman (TX-36), NCPA Legislative Director Brian Williams, John Kutch from the Thorium Energy Alliance and Jim Kennedy from ThREE Consulting.
The experts will address several key questions, including:
- Why rare-earth metals are so important and how Congress can encourage their production,
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What Congress can do to address China’s virtual monopoly on heavy rare earth processing, and
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What viable options are present for handling thorium and other byproducts of heavy rare earth mining.
To speak with our experts, please contact Caytie Daniell or Brian Williams.
WHO: Kevin Cassidy: U.S. Rare Earths
Printus LeBlanc: Office of Rep. Steve Stockman (TX-36)
NCPA Legislative Director Brian Williams
John Kutch: Thorium Energy Alliance
Jim Kennedy: ThREE Consulting
WHAT: NCPA Briefing – “Rare Earths: Implications for National Defense, the Economy and the Environment”
WHEN: 12:00 – 1:30 p.m., Friday, September 26, 2014
WHERE: Rayburn House Office Building, Room B-369
Washington, D.C.