Mining In Alaska Powers Renewable Energy Transition

Alaska isn’t waiting around for the energy transition. It’s already happening.

Across the state, renewable energy is lighting homes, powering villages, and cutting long-term costs. That shift depends on mining in Alaska.

Every wind turbine, solar panel, and battery storage unit starts with raw materials pulled from the ground. Copper, graphite, and rare earths are extracted, refined, and turned into the hardware behind Alaska's alternative energy. The same is true for electric vehicles and smart grids across the country. Mining supports them all.

Did You Know? Alaska is rich in key metals and minerals used to build renewable energy sources, including copper, zinc, silver, and cobalt.

A Bright Future Mining in Alaska

Roughly a third of Alaska’s electricity came from renewable sources in 2022. Most of it was hydro. That number is expected to hit 50% by 2025 as the state pushes harder into alternative energy.

The shift mirrors what’s happening across the country. In the first half of 2022, EIA reported renewable sources made up 24% of total U.S. electricity production. That was up from the year before and is still climbing. Wind, solar, and hydro are leading the charge. However, building out that kind of infrastructure takes raw materials.

Mining is good for Alaska because it feeds both local energy projects and national ones. It supports jobs in-state while helping meet the rising demand for clean power. Without it, progress slows down.

Did You Know? Alaska’s vast supply of rivers sets the state apart for its rich hydroelectric potential.

Did You Know? Copper and zinc are both key minerals for building hydroelectric power facilities.

Alaska Fuels the Energy Future

The move toward renewable energy keeps picking up speed. That means a bigger need for the raw materials behind it. Copper, zinc, cobalt, silver, and graphite all play a part. And they can be responsibly mined in Alaska.

Mining in Alaska supports everything from power grids to energy storage. It’s one of the reasons the world, nation, and Alaska's alternative energy is even possible. As demand grows, so will the value of what’s under Alaska’s feet. For future generations, that’s a real advantage.

Frequently Asked Questions About Mining in Alaska

‍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.

Do mining companies in Alaska work with local communities?

Yes — they have to, both legally and practically. Most of Alaska’s big mines operate on or near land owned by Native Corporations or villages. Projects can’t move forward without agreements in place. That means ongoing meetings, land use discussions, and shared benefits plans. These conversations aren’t always easy, but they do lead to partnerships. In many cases, Native Corporations receive royalty payments or direct investment from mines on their land. In 2023, Alaska Native Regional and Village Corporations received $235 million in mining royalties. This funding supports housing, jobs, health care, and education in rural communities. Mine operators also hire locally whenever possible. That’s not charity — it’s common sense. Locals know the land, the weather, and the logistics better than anyone else. Mining companies depend on that knowledge to keep operations steady and safe.

Are Alaska’s mines actually doing any land reclamation?

Yes, and in some places, they’re doing it while the mine is still running. Reclamation isn’t an afterthought anymore. Plans are built into the project from day one. That means stockpiling topsoil, planting native vegetation, grading roads, and recontouring the land before they close up shop. Mines use drones to track regrowth and soil health. In cold parts of the state, that process takes longer — but they start early so progress builds over time. Some companies even set up long-term monitoring stations to keep tabs on water quality and plant growth after closure. The idea is to return the land to a usable state — sometimes for wildlife, sometimes for community use. Either way, it’s not a wrecking crew followed by silence. It’s steady, measured restoration backed by people who plan to be here for the long haul.

What’s the connection between mining in Alaska and renewable energy?

You can’t build a solar panel without minerals like silver and zinc. Wind turbines need copper and rare earths. Batteries for EVs rely on cobalt, graphite, lithium, & nickel. Alaska’s mineral reserves include a bunch of those — especially zinc, copper, and graphite. The U.S. imports most of these from overseas right now. That’s expensive and politically risky. Alaska offers a safer, domestic supply that meets modern environmental standards. Mines here operate under strict permitting rules and undergo regular monitoring. You’re not getting that from every supplier abroad. So while mining and renewables might seem like opposites, they’re actually linked. One doesn’t exist without the other. Climate-smart mining helps bridge that gap by reducing emissions while pulling out the stuff clean tech needs.

Sources:

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/clean-energy/the-minerals-used-by-clean-energy-technologies