Talon Metals proposes Minnesota nickel mine to supply Tesla.
Talon Metals has submitted its plan for an underground nickel and copper mine in Aitkin County, Minnesota, to regulators, marking the start of the environmental review process. The Tamarack Nickel Project could become a domestic source of metals for electric vehicles, but has drawn skepticism from the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe due to concerns over potential water pollution. Talon has signed a deal with Tesla to ensure a local nickel supply chain for EV batteries and altered its project to transport ore to North Dakota rather than processing it locally. The mine would employ around 300 workers during full production and generate more than $100m in royalty payments for state and local governments.