ADN Politics is a podcast about all things political in Alaska. Each week, host Elizabeth Harball speaks with reporters, politicians, and Alaskans about some of the state’s biggest news stories.
The Inflation Reduction Act, signed into law this summer by President Joe Biden, is one of the most significant actions the U.S. government has ever taken to address climate change. It could also lead to more mining in Alaska.
In this episode, host Elizabeth Harball is joined by ADN reporter Alex DeMarban, who dug into how the Inflation Reduction Act incentivizes mining for so-called critical minerals, essential to building the wind turbines, solar panels, batteries and other technology needed for the world to cut carbon emissions. It turns out Alaska has many of the critical minerals the U.S. is looking for to help deal with climate change — but also long-running concerns about mining’s impacts to fisheries, subsistence and more.
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This episode of ADN Politics is sponsored by SteamDot Coffee.