Utah Uranium Moves Forward

Article courtesy of Paradigm Pressroom Bullets ~

The Velvet-Wood mine, located 35 miles south of Moab, Utah, is the first project to benefit from President Trump’s January 2025 declaration of a “national energy emergency.”

Under this order, federal agencies can expedite environmental reviews for critical energy projects, slashing approval times from months or years to as little as 11 days.

“President Trump has made it clear that our energy security is national security,” Burgum says. “These emergency procedures reflect our unwavering commitment to protecting both.”

The administration’s rationale is straightforward: With the U.S. importing about 98% of its uranium — much of it from allies like Canada and Australia, but also from nations like Kazakhstan and, until recently, Russia — domestic mining is seen as a matter of national security.

“By simplifying the review process for essential mineral projects like Velvet-Wood, we’re reducing dependence on foreign adversaries,” Burgum adds.

Once a cornerstone of Moab’s Cold War-era uranium boom, the Velvet-Wood mine has sat idle since the 1980s. Now, Canadian firm Anfield Energy is poised to reopen it, tapping into known deposits of uranium and vanadium and promising jobs and infrastructure improvements for the region.

The Interior Department estimates the operation will disturb just three new acres of land; yet the rapid approval process has sparked backlash from environmental groups who argue that the “energy emergency” is a political construct and not a legitimate crisis.

Despite the pushback, the White House’s master plan is clear: Cut red tape, boost domestic production and leverage America’s resources for economic and strategic advantage.

The Trump administration’s aggressive push to unlock Alaska’s energy reserves and fast-track critical mineral projects is not merely a policy shift — it marks the opening chapter of what Paradigm’s macro expert Jim Rickards calls “America’s Birthright” moment.

As the drive to revitalize American energy stretches from the Arctic tundra to the red-rock deserts of the West, the nation stands poised to accelerate its energy ambitions and unlock, what Jim argues, is a $150 trillion trove of critical resources long sequestered on federal lands.

I agree that we should not be so dependent on other nations for energy. I’m just worried that things will go a little too far…..