To watch a video of Senator Manchin’s opening remarks, please click here.

To watch a video of Senator Manchin’s questioning, please click here.

Washington, DC – Today, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a hearing to discuss the sourcing and use of minerals required for clean energy technologies. U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), Ranking Member of the Committee, stressed the importance of establishing responsible mineral sources including mining and recycling to help ensure continued investments in clean energy. 

“Renewable energy sources and energy storage play growing and crucial roles in the energy sector. In fact, according to a recent report, renewable energy investments will likely exceed $2.6 trillion dollars in this decade. Electric vehicles are also expected to be a growing part of our energy future. The common denominator between all of these clean energy technologies is a handful of minerals that either occur in limited abundance or only in certain countries around the world,” Ranking Member Manchin said.

Ranking Member Manchin questioned Mr. Robert Kang, CEO, Blue Whale Materials, LLC, about important whole lithium ion battery recycling needs to play to meet future demands.

“I would say that recycling is one answer to meet the demands that we see in the future. I believe that by having a robust collection system, and a vibrant recycling industry, we not only will meet the national security issues that we’re discussing here today, but we’ll also be, as you mentioned, taking care of a hazardous problem,” said Mr. Kang

The hearing also featured testimony from the Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, the Payne Institute at the Colorado School of Mines, Foreign Policy Analytics and the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research. To read their testimonies, please click here.

To watch the hearing in full, please click here.

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