Nickel exploration ramps up in Michigan and Minnesota amid rising EV battery demand

As the U.S. seeks more domestic sources of electric vehicle battery metals, geologists are exploring Michigan's Upper Peninsula and Minnesota for nickel deposits.

Hannah Northey reports for E&E News.

In short:

• Talon Metals is leading a large-scale search for nickel in Michigan and Minnesota to support electric vehicle battery production, funded partly by a Department of Defense grant.
• Local tribes express concern about potential environmental impacts, as Talon’s exploration overlaps with ancestral Indigenous lands and sensitive ecosystems.
• Talon says it aims to collaborate with tribes on environmental protections and job creation, though agreements are still being negotiated.

Key quote:

“Exploration is opening Pandora’s box. Once it’s open, it gets harder and harder to close the lid.”

— John Coleman, environmental scientist with Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission

Why this matters:

As demand for electric vehicle batteries grows, finding domestic nickel sources becomes increasingly urgent for energy security. However, this exploration may affect Indigenous lands and ecosystems, raising concerns about long-term environmental impacts and human rights.