Interview Series: Chapter 4 —Cobalt and National Security: EVelution Energy Addresses a Strategic U.S. Need
How a U.S.-based cobalt processing facility helps secure America’s defense readiness and clean energy future—with support from the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program
In Chapter 4 of the ongoing interview series between Michael Gibson of USAdvisors.org and the leadership team at EVelution Energy, the conversation takes a turn into national security—and the critical role cobalt plays in both U.S. defense and clean energy infrastructure.
Cobalt isn’t just for electric vehicles. It’s a vital material used in military drones, advanced missile systems, aerospace components, and even backup battery systems that power essential defense technology. And yet, despite its strategic importance, the U.S. has allowed its domestic cobalt stockpile to dwindle dangerously low.
“During the Cold War, the U.S. had 13,000 metric tons of cobalt in its Strategic Defense Stockpile,” said Gil Michel-Garcia, EVP and General Counsel of EVelution Energy. “Today, we have fewer than 300 metric tons—barely enough for a few weeks of national need.”
This alarming gap in national preparedness is why both Republican and Democratic administrations—past and present—have pushed to re-onshore critical mineral supply chains. In fact, a recent Executive Order from President Trump reaffirmed cobalt’s strategic designation, a continuation of the same focus under the Biden Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
EVelution Energy’s response? Build the first U.S.-based cobalt processing facility, located in Yuma County, Arizona. The project has already drawn attention from automakers like General Motors and Stellantis, as well as national leaders focused on economic independence and defense readiness.
“This is about more than EV batteries,” said Michael Gibson during the interview. “It’s about securing America’s future—economically, militarily, and industrially.”
Through a strategic funding partnership with Intermestic Capital and EB5 Horizon, the project is also open to qualified immigrant investors through the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program. This program offers eligible foreign nationals a path to U.S. permanent residency in exchange for a job-creating investment in projects like EVelution Energy.
Why This Matters:
National Defense: Cobalt is essential for defense technology, yet the U.S. lacks adequate reserves.
Re-Onshoring Production: EVelution’s Arizona facility will reduce reliance on foreign sources, especially China.
Bipartisan Support: Both major political parties agree on the need to secure domestic mineral processing.
Investor Opportunity: EB-5 investors can help fund this critical project—and earn a U.S. green card in the process.
Watch Chapter 4 of the interview now: https://youtu.be/whttX6qRHa4
🌐 Learn more about investment opportunities with EB5 Horizon: www.eb5horizon.com
Evelution Energy Interview Chapter 4
Michael Gibson, USAdvisors, interviews Gil Michele-Garcia, Executive Vice President, Evelution Energy
Transcript
Evelution Energy Interview Chapter 4
Michael Gibson, Managing Director of US Advisors (USAdvisors.org) an independent Registered Investment Advisory Firm. Michael also owns and runs EB-5 Investments (eb5projects.com) and is an EB5 industry expert.
Gil Michel-Garcia, Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Treasurer & Secretary
Michael Gibson, speaking
And we talked earlier about how Senators and Congressmen from both sides of the aisle, Republican and Democrats. These are all things that they support. Obviously, they wanna increase their manufacturing base. They wanna create employment. So those are the, the carryovers from the RIA that, that probably would be still maintained here.
Gil Michel-Garcia, speaking
But, just in President Trump in his most recent enactment, which was this week, effectively, was very clear that with respect to critical minerals, it is the policy of the government of the United States and the current administration as well as the previous administration, that they are of strategic importance to the United States. And that it is very important that we domesticate the supply chain of those materials.
Michael Gibson, speaking
Yeah. And to that point, I mean, I think all of America learned a huge lesson during Covid. When almost all of the pharmaceutical manufacturing, especially the mask and protective equipment, and a lot of the drug testing was being done in Asia, principally in China. And we found out we, when we could no longer get any of that equipment, how critical that was, imagined to our health. And now we're speaking about Department of Defense, we're speaking about US manufacturing of electrical vehicles, and other components. And I could see why they would want an emphasis. I'm having a US producer of such a critical component.
Gil Michel-Garcia, speaking
I'm just to give you a little bit of background on terms of the strategic defense, of the Strategic Defense Stockpile of the United States. During the Cold War the United States has strategic defense stock of 13,000 metric tons of cobalt. Which is used in a myriad of aerospace and defense applications and weapon systems. After the Cold War, it's decreased to about 300 metric times.
Michael Gibson, speaking
So almost nothing.
Gil Michel-Garcia, speaking
Almost nothing.
Michael Gibson, speaking
Like you would say one month of…
Gil Michel-Garcia, speaking
Not even. several weeks, a couple of weeks.
Michael Gibson, speaking
A couple weeks of supply. Can you imagine if that was the gasoline reserve? That would be crazy.
Gil Michel-Garcia, speaking
It would be crazy, right? And, cobalt demand has exploded and it’s expected to continue to explode. Because of both EV applications in the growth of the aerospace and defense sector. We just think about how drones are becoming now super important in all warfare. We're seeing it in Ukraine. It's, it's an emphasis on the South Pacific theater. And, so basically having the capacity to manufacture one of the most crucial components for EV batteries. For drone batteries, which are all electric. As well as for the components for aerospace and defense missile systems, and aerospace systems is a very important thing. Which we want to not only domesticate. But we want to be able to domestically supply the American US strategic preservative.
Michael Gibson, speaking
No, and I think that's a critical component of any administration. They wanna make as America as safe as possible by, you know, having our manufacturing base within our borders.
Gil Michel-Garcia, speaking
So just it turns as critical materials, that is the focus of both administrations, regardless of party