It is tragically ironic that the anti-mining Lynn Canal Conservation organization has chosen to raffle an electric bicycle rather than a human-powered bicycle. Ebikes have more in common with motorcycles than a true bicycle. They require mining of lithium, cobalt and other minerals. The July 25 Alaska Journal of Commerce reported this about cobalt: “To meet the future green energy needs… production would need to double by 2030 and triple by 2050. Much of the current production comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo and is refined by China.”

The proposed Bokan Mountain mine on Prince of Wales Island might appeal to LCC. It could provide the minerals for LCC’s ebikes and the mining and refining could be in the hands of Americans rather than the Chinese.

Richard Clement

Author