Utah Mine Powers Itself With Metal It Digs From the Ground

A copper mine in Utah is now running on solar panels made from materials it extracted from the earth itself, proving that the clean energy transition can happen right here at home.

Rio Tinto's Kennecott operation just fired up a 25-megawatt solar plant built with panels containing tellurium, a critical mineral the mine started producing as a copper byproduct in 2022. Combined with an earlier 5-megawatt installation from 2023, the site now generates enough solar power for over 1,000 American homes and cuts emissions equivalent to removing 4,400 cars from the road annually.

Here's what makes this special: Kennecott is one of only two U.S. producers of tellurium, which is essential for making efficient solar panels. Instead of importing this rare material, the mine sends its tellurium to 5N Plus in Canada for processing, then to First Solar for panel manufacturing. Those panels return to Utah to power the very operations that produced the raw material. The entire supply chain stays in North America.

The project wrapped up two months ahead of schedule and created 200 local jobs during construction. Workers installed over 71,000 solar panels starting in October 2024, with the system going live in December.

Nate Foster, who runs Rio Tinto Kennecott, calls it "a demonstration of circularity and supply chain resilience" that strengthens national energy security while supporting climate goals. The model shows how mining operations can be part of the renewable energy solution rather than just the problem.

The Ripple Effect

This circular approach could reshape how America builds its clean energy infrastructure. By proving that domestic mineral production can directly feed renewable energy projects, Kennecott offers a template for reducing dependence on foreign supply chains while accelerating decarbonization.

The mine's copper production itself supports the energy transition, since copper wiring is essential for solar installations, electric vehicles, and power grids. Now the operation demonstrates end-to-end sustainability: mining critical minerals, using them to manufacture clean technology, and powering the whole process with renewable energy.

The 20,000 tonnes of carbon emissions eliminated annually represents a 6% reduction in the mine's electricity-related footprint. As the model proves successful, similar operations across North America could follow suit, multiplying the climate benefits while building a more resilient domestic supply chain for the materials that power our renewable future.