The Department of the Interior recently announced that $167 million in funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will be used to replace deteriorating laboratories the U.S. Geological Survey uses for energy and mineral programs.
The funding will support the creation of new spaces at the Colorado School of Mines campus in Golden, Colorado, which will allow USGS energy and minerals researchers to collaborate with geoscience and energy professors, according to a Feb. 18 press release.
“Science is at the heart of Interior’s mission, and we are committed to empowering the agency’s scientific and technical experts to use the best available technology to guide our work,” Interior Secretary, Deb Haaland, said in the release. “This investment from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will help maintain and enhance the necessary infrastructure to provide unique research and operational capabilities in critical minerals research, energy resource evaluation and other essential energy and mineral program priorities for the USGS.”
Haaland recently toured facilities at the campus along with Sen. Michael Bennet, Sen. John Hickenlooper, Rep. Ed Perlmutter, and Assistant Secretary for Water and Science, Tanya Trujillo, the release stated.
The new facility, dubbed the Energy and Minerals Research Building, is expected to be finished in five years, according to the release. It will include the USGS Geology, Geophysics and Geochemistry Science Center, along with the Central Energy Resources Science Center.
“The USGS is pleased to expand our more than 40-year partnership with (the) Colorado School of Mines through the construction of this new world-class facility,” said David Applegate, associate director for natural hazards for the USGS, in the release. “Now, in addition to collaborating on natural hazards research, USGS and Mines staff will work together to address the nation’s energy and mineral resource challenges.”
Colorado School of Mines President, Paul Johnson, shared his joy about working with the USGS.
“We are excited to be expanding the U.S. Geological Survey presence on the Colorado School of Mines campus,” he said in the release. “The combined expertise of our two organizations will make Golden, Colorado, the epicenter of knowledge, research and education related to Earth, energy and the environment.”
Despite the funding secured for the project from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, about $73 million is still needed to complete it, according to a Fox 31 report.
