Electric cars run on more than electricity. Wind farms need more than wide-open space. Solar panels only work because of what’s pulled from deep in the ground. Green technologies rely on metals that come from mines, not factories or clean rooms.

Copper, lithium, silver, and rare earth elements support the systems behind clean energy, battery storage, and advanced electronics. These materials come from places like Alaska, where mining plays a real part in making renewable energy possible. The push for sustainability depends on a steady stream of green metals, and mining in Alaska is built to meet that need. Every wire, circuit, motor, and grid has a piece of the earth inside it. That connection matters.

Rare Earth Elements

Rare earth elements are a huge part of how clean energy systems perform behind the scenes. These mined metals are built into the core of electric motors, wind turbine generators, and the magnets that keep power flowing efficiently. They also appear in smart grids and energy-saving lighting. 

Most people will never see them, but their role in renewable technology is constant. Mining in green technology doesn’t work without them, and Alaska holds long-term potential to support future production in this area.

Eco-Friendly Silver:

As the world adopts and needs more Alaska-mined metals for renewable technologies, one standout is silver. 

• With the highest electrical conductivity of all metals, silver is ideal for use in solar cells
• Silver's conductivity and corrosion resistance is critical in electronics
• Silver is used in nearly every electrical connection in an electric vehicle
• The automotive sector uses more than 55 million ounces of silver annually for various automotive electronics and to improve conductivity (Source: Virtual Capitalist)

Did you know? Alaska is home to Greens Creek, the largest silver mine in the United States.

Lithium and Battery Minerals

Lithium, graphite, and similar minerals drive the battery systems found in electric cars and renewable power grids. These aren’t fringe use cases. They’re essential to large-scale energy storage and reducing fossil fuel consumption in transportation and housing. Mining is good for Alaska because it supports access to these materials and creates reliable sourcing for technologies that demand long-term energy stability. Without consistent mining of these battery and green metals, growth in green technology slows down fast.

Copper and Renewable Energy Infrastructure

Copper is a key component for Alaska mining in green technology, as it contributes to solar panels, wind turbines, and electrical grids. Mining provides the necessary supply of copper to support the expansion of these green technologies.

Raw Materials and Energy Efficiency

Mining provides the raw materials used in energy-efficient technologies such as LED lighting, smart appliances, and advanced insulation materials. These technologies help reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The use of mined metals in technology like this is one of the clearest examples of how everyday energy savings start underground.

Geothermal Energy Resources

Geothermal energy, a renewable energy source, relies on the extraction of heat from the Earth’s crust. Geothermal resources are used for electricity generation and heating purposes. Mining in green technology also includes the minerals and infrastructure needed to build and maintain geothermal systems that deliver consistent, low-emission power.

Carbon Capture and Storage

Mining is instrumental in sourcing materials such as zeolites and other minerals used in carbon capture and storage technologies. These technologies capture and store carbon dioxide emissions from industrial processes and power plants, reducing overall carbon footprints. This process depends on renewable metals found in Alaska that make carbon filtration and compression systems work at scale.

Mining Fuels the Green Tech We Count On

Every solar panel, battery pack, and wind turbine starts with raw materials pulled from the ground. These are the core of how renewable systems function. Alaska holds a strong position in that chain, supplying green metals that power real change in how the world moves, builds, and stays connected.

The relationship between mining and green technology shows up in the wiring of an electric vehicle, the magnet inside a wind turbine, and the graphite packed into a battery cell. Renewable metals keep these systems reliable and ready to scale.

Alaska’s mineral resources support energy goals that reach beyond state lines. The more demand grows, the more important it becomes to source those materials from places that do it well. Mining in Alaska is part of a larger effort to build energy solutions that last.

Frequently Asked Questions About Mining in Alaska

What is a closed-loop water system and why does it matter in Alaska mining?

A closed-loop water system keeps the water used during mining in constant reuse. That means almost nothing leaves the site. Instead of drawing new water from streams or rivers, the system treats and recycles water already in circulation. Pumps, filters, tanks, and treatment units all work together to make it usable again. Mines use this water to crush rock, suppress dust, and run equipment. The result is a massive drop in freshwater consumption. In Alaska, where rivers support fish and remote villages depend on clean water, this makes a difference. These systems also reduce the chance of contamination. When water doesn’t leave the site, it can’t carry anything into nearby ecosystems. Closed-loop systems are now standard at many large Alaska mines. They cost more to build, but they keep communities and regulators off edge — which helps keep the mine operating without pushback.

What happens to mining waste in Alaska?

Modern mines don’t just pile up tailings and walk away. Dry stacking is the preferred method now. It removes excess water from tailings, leaving a dense material that stacks safely — not sludge that risks leaking. At some mines, waste rock is reused as fill for roads, underground backfill, or even local construction projects. Others are testing ways to recover minerals that were once considered too small to bother with. That means more value from the same volume of rock and less left behind. Mines also cover and monitor their waste piles. Sensors track moisture and chemical levels. If there’s any risk of leaching into nearby water, they spot it early and deal with it. This is what people mean by responsible mining — not perfect, but cautious, planned, and constantly watched.

How do Alaska mining operations protect wildlife?

Alaska miners don’t build without thinking about who else lives there. Biologists survey sites before operations begin, looking for key migration routes, spawning streams, and animal nesting zones. Then engineers adjust the project layout. Roads might bend to avoid a caribou corridor. Equipment yards shift to protect an eagle’s nest. This isn’t about avoiding headaches — it’s about keeping the area livable for everyone. Mines use aerial surveys and tracking collars to understand how their presence affects wildlife. Some contribute funding to conservation studies or habitat restoration. And since a lot of mining land overlaps with public or Native-managed land, local groups help keep tabs on activity. Alaska’s terrain makes careless mining impossible. Everything sticks out here — noise, dust, lights — so miners do their best to minimize disruptions and stay in the good graces of wildlife and neighbors alike.