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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Former Idaho Gov. Butch Otter joins cobalt mining company

In this Jan. 5, 2018, photo, Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter speaks to reporters about the 2018 legislative session at the State Capitol in Boise, Idaho. Roughly seven weeks after leaving office, Otter has joined the board of a Canadian mining company that is expanding into Idaho. (Otto Kitsinger / AP)
Associated Press

BOISE, Idaho – Roughly seven weeks after leaving office, former Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter has joined the board of a Canadian mining company that is expanding into Idaho.

The Idaho Statesman reports Otter will be on the board of directors for First Cobalt, a Toronto-based company with a cobalt project southwest of Salmon, Idaho, called Iron Creek. The area, known as the Idaho cobalt belt, is one of the most cobalt-rich areas in North America.

The metal is a key component of lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles and electronic devices.

In a prepared statement Otter says Idaho’s Cobalt Belt is strategically important so America can reduce reliance on foreign sources of critical minerals.