As the world transitions to a new energy era, based on sustainable, low- or no-carbon fuels, demand for mineral resources will change in fundamental ways as well. Consumption of fossil fuels (coal, natural gas and petroleum) will decrease markedly. Consumption of minerals necessary to support sustainable energy production will increase significantly. Electric vehicles will require considerably more cobalt, copper, graphite, lithium, manganese and nickel than the vehicles they will replace. Wind and solar energy, and upgrades to the electric grid, will consume significant quantities of aluminum, concrete, copper, rare earths, silicon, and steel. Sustainable buildings and communications will need copper, gallium, gold, indium, nickel, quartz, silver, and zinc. Supplies of these and other mineral resources will be critical to the transition. In the United States supplies of these minerals will come from domestic mines, imports from other countries—some more friendly than others—and recycling.
