alt Hacker News> And this is why rare earth processing left Americ
Not to mention that it can take 10-30 years to open a new mine, between all the environmental reviews and court challenges.
I'm always amazed that people will prevent mines from opening in the US on environmental grounds, then continue to happily buy 99% of everything from overseas, where the environmental and labor regulations are significantly weaker, and governments even more prone to covering up wrongdoing.
You’re surprised by NIMBYism?? It’s everywhere. Find a county where both developers and the populace are welcoming a new factory or other industrial facility — hard to find! Look at housing policy in certain big cities and where rents are skyrocketing while housing unit creation stagnates.