The Pentagon just became one of the biggest funders of lithium and graphite mining in North America — and the reason has almost nothing to do with electric vehicles

The Pentagon has become a major funder of critical mineral mining in North America, with a significant increase in Department of Defense grants being allocated to lithium, graphite, and rare earth projects. While these minerals are commonly associated with clean-energy transitions, they are also crucial components in weaponry, such as batteries for weapon systems and lightweight materials for fighter jets. The funding reflects a push for domestic production in response to national security concerns about foreign mineral dependence.

However, this accelerated mining has raised concerns among indigenous communities near the project sites, who fear the impact on their traditional way of life. Residents living near mining projects in Alaska and Nevada, backed by Pentagon dollars, have expressed worries about threats to subsistence hunting and gathering, as well as ecosystem destruction with no clear restoration plan. This highlights the complexity of the clean-energy transition, revealing the invisible costs and trade-offs associated with the minerals powering both electric vehicles and military equipment.