Critical Minerals & the Midwest: Legislators take deep dive at November policy workshop
In November, lawmakers from seven Midwestern states and two Canadian provinces traveled to Chicago for a two-day learning opportunity that deepened their understanding about critical minerals and related public policies.
The workshop was held as part of the work of two policy committees of The Council of State Governments’ bipartisan, binational Midwestern Legislative Conference (MLC): Energy and Environment and Midwest-Canada Relations.
Attendees included legislators from Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Manitoba, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, Ontario and Wisconsin. They were joined by leading national and international experts from the U.S. Geological Survey, the Geological Survey of Canada, the Illinois State Geological Survey, the province of Québec, the Critical Minerals Institute and the Rocky Mountain Institute.
Three officers of the two MLC committees took part in the event and helped oversee it: Indiana Rep. Ethan Manning, co-chair of the MLC Energy and Environment Committee; Ontario MPP Ernie Hardeman, co-chair of the MLC Midwest-Canada Relations Committee; and North Dakota Rep. David Monson, vice chair of the MLC Midwest-Canada Relations Committee.
More on critical minerals and the workshop
A critical mineral is defined under U.S. federal law as one that is essential to the economic or national security of the country. Changes in the energy sector and overall economy are increasing the need for many of these critical minerals.
During the the interactive policy workshop, legislators learned what critical minerals are and where they are (and might be) in the Midwestern region. Other discussions focused on the end uses of critical minerals and the importance of building regional, binational supply chains.
The Consulate General of Canada in Chicago served as a partner on this event. This partnership, along with the generous support of external sponsors, helped allow CSG Midwest to provide travel scholarships to participating legislators.
CSG’s Midwestern Legislative Conference thanks the partners and sponsors, as well as the featured speakers and participating legislators, for contributing to the success of the policy workshop.
Learn more about the event and view presentations from it
