Washington, DC - Energy and Commerce Committee Republican Leader Greg Walden (R-OR), Energy Subcommittee Republican Leader Fred Upton (R-MI), and Environment and Climate Change Subcommittee Republican Leader John Shimkus (R-IL) released the following statement on the Department of Energy (DOE)’s notice on guidance for applications for loan proposals on critical mineral projects.
“The COVID-19 pandemic showed how important our electric grid and other technologies are as Americans worked, learned, and received health care from their homes. And as we faced shortages for various supplies, we realized how important it is to strengthen our domestic supply chain. From our grid to our batteries, technologies made from critical minerals power our lives, and we must ensure the U.S. can create the supply to meet the demand. We thank Secretary Brouillette and the Department of Energy for their work to promote U.S. leadership and competition in critical minerals," said Walden, Upton, and Shimkus.
Background:
This week, the DOE issued new guidance for applications to the Loan Programs Office, which is seeking applications for guarantees that support projects involving critical minerals. This notice aims to boost our domestic critical mineral supply chain and supports President Trump’s September 2020 Executive Order Addressing the Threat to the Domestic Supply Chain from Reliance on Critical Minerals from Foreign Adversaries and December 2017 Executive Order on A Federal Strategy to Ensure Secure and Reliable Supplies of Critical Minerals.
E&C Republicans highlighted in a recent hearing the risks posed by relying on China for these critical minerals and rare-earth elements.
