Every day, Americans rely on products powered by materials most of us never think about. The phones in our pockets, the vehicles we drive and the defense systems that protect our nation all depend on critical minerals.
Lithium, graphite, gallium, cobalt and rare earth elements form the backbone of modern technology. They power the systems that drive our economy and protect our nation, serving as the essential building blocks of both innovation and national defense.
Yet despite their importance, the United States remains heavily dependent on foreign supply for many of these materials, with a single nation controlling 60% of global critical mineral extraction and 90% of refining capacity. That means American manufacturing, infrastructure and defense readiness rely on supply chains largely outside our control.
Supply security is national security.
Strengthening domestic production is no longer simply an economic goal; it is a strategic necessity. Utah is uniquely positioned to help meet that challenge.
Our state contains 50 of the 60 minerals designated as critical to the nation’s economy and security. That figure represents far more than geology; it reflects both opportunity and a profound responsibility. But resources alone are not enough. Execution matters. That is where S.B. 254 Critical Minerals Amendments comes in.
SB254 sets the framework and establishes measurable goals. It positions Utah to supply 20–25% of U.S. critical mineral demand, encourages in-state processing of at least half of Utah-extracted materials, and seeks to reduce permitting timelines to under 18 months through improved coordination between state and federal agencies.
This legislation does not weaken environmental protections or bypass safety standards. Instead, it addresses a different problem: delay. Major mineral projects today can take years, sometimes close to a decade, to navigate permitting processes. Those timelines discourage investment and deepen America’s reliance on foreign suppliers.
Utahns understand that responsible development and conservation can coexist. Our state has long balanced natural resource production with the protection of the landscapes we value. Clear timelines and coordinated review processes make projects more predictable without weakening standards.
Keeping more processing in the United States, and in Utah, is especially important. Expanding capacity at home creates high-skilled technical jobs, strengthens engineering and research partnerships, and broadens workforce training opportunities. When Utah produces and processes more of these materials domestically, the economic and strategic benefits stay here.
Institutions such as the University of Utah, one of only 14 accredited mining engineering programs in the country, are already preparing the next generation of industry leaders. Through focused research on sustainable extraction, mineral waste reclamation and rare earth processing technologies, Utah’s universities are advancing critical minerals production and innovation. Further expanding this domestic production will help establish the integrated industrial ecosystem that our nation depends on.
The benefits extend well beyond Utah’s borders. A reliable mineral supply strengthens American manufacturing, stabilizes infrastructure development and supports military readiness. It also reduces the leverage of unstable or adversarial regimes over American businesses and families.
Rebuilding supply chains will not happen overnight. It requires sustained investment in infrastructure, strategic workforce development, and coordination between state and federal partners. Western states are already collaborating to reinforce these goals by modernizing transportation, processing and manufacturing networks that will sustain domestic production and economic resilience for decades to come.
Access to critical minerals will determine whether American factories can keep operating, whether advanced technologies can be produced domestically, and whether our defense systems have the materials they require. Innovation alone cannot secure our future if we fail to secure the resources that make innovation possible.
Utah has the geology. We have the workforce. We have the capacity to lead.
Now is the time to turn that potential into progress, build the supply chain at home and reinforce our national defense.
When Utah leads, the nation grows stronger.