On July 13, 2023, the U.S. Department of Energy announced a $32 million funding initiative to support projects aimed at constructing facilities that extract rare earth elements and other crucial minerals and materials from domestic coal-based resources. U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm highlighted that this effort, in alignment with President Biden's Investing in America agenda, offers a historic opportunity to transform coal products into vital materials for various clean energy products.
“President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is providing a historic opportunity to convert coal products into the critical materials needed to build an array of clean energy products,” Granholm said, according to a release from the DOE.
The DOE has unveiled a $32 million allocation for projects aimed at establishing facilities capable of producing rare earth elements and essential minerals from domestic coal-based resources. Funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this initiative seeks to bolster domestic supply chains, meeting the rising demand for critical minerals, while simultaneously reducing dependence on foreign sources, the release said.
“The president’s transformative investments will strengthen our national security by lessening our dependence on international supply chains, while delivering high-quality jobs and healthier communities for all Americans,” Granholm added, according to the release.
The United States currently relies on importing more than 80% of its rare earth elements from foreign suppliers, while these valuable resources can be found domestically, including in coal and coal wastes. This funding opportunity aims to tap into this unconventional source, aiming to establish a domestic supply chain crucial for the country's economy, clean energy initiatives and national security, the release reported.
The program will provide funding for research, development and demonstration projects that support the creation of intermediate- and/or demonstration-scale facilities for domestic production and refining of rare earth elements and other critical minerals across the nation. The funded FEED studies will define technical requirements, project scope, schedule and costs, reducing risks during the construction and operation of these future facilities, the DOE release concluded.
