Seattle: US politicians are advancing efforts to secure supplies of rare-earth elements, which are necessary for key renewables components. Reflecting growing anxiety about China's virtual monopoly, Democratic senators urged the Obama administration to oppose funding from multilateral banks that finance Chinese projects "involving rare-earth mining, smelting or separation, or production of rare-earth products".
China controls at least 95% of the world's supply of rare-earth elements, some of which are critical to permanent-magnet direct-drive turbines and hybrid vehicles.
Senators
