Rare Earth Magnets
As early as the 1990’s the United States and other nations began exploring alternative power sources, finally moving away from oil completely in the late 2020’s after Hurricane Maxwell and other climate disasters. The 2030’s were a time of experimentation, as people found that their EV’s and solar tech weren’t what they were promised. Internationally, wars were fought over the cobalt and lithium mines until those metals were impossible to import. In response to the energy crisis, Unified America Project (UAP) under the Omega vowed to be a completely self-sustaining nation.
Deep in the mountains of the Northwest Imperative Territory (NIT) sit the largest deposits of Rare earth magnets in the UAP. Rare earth magnets (and solar) power most UAP technology. Personal and public transportation are electromagnetic. Wheels house the magnets of personal transport vehicles; to move forward magnets of opposite poles are faced towards one another, and to reverse one is switched. There is also a large public transportation system which runs between major hubs in each dome and between domed cities to move important people and goods. This system, The Orbit, runs using a magnetic road which creates thrust when it interacts with the tram car’s electromagnetic engine. Both the personal and public systems are completely clean and self-sustaining, making them very popular with Project Citizens. Rare earth magnets also power most mainstream technology and important military components
However, rare earth magnets are very dangerous and difficult to mine, and therefore very expensive. They are the main reason the UAP needed to keep control of the NIT during the Texas Revolution, and guards ride with the ore from the NIT back to the Pennsburg Dome where it is processed to prevent theft by separatist groups or attacks from the Texan military. Ore guards are important, but not well respected, members of society.
Type
Mineral
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