The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced an allocation of over $17 million to three projects aimed at supporting the design and construction of facilities that produce rare earth elements and other critical minerals and materials from coal-based resources. The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), under the auspices of DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM), will oversee these selected projects.
These front-end engineering and design (FEED) studies are intended to mitigate risks associated with the construction and operation of upcoming rare earth element and critical minerals production facilities. According to a press release by DOE, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign will conduct a study to establish a fully integrated supply chain within Illinois for critical minerals production from coal-based sources. Concurrently, Winner Water Services, Inc. and Tetra Tech, Inc. will each undertake studies in Pennsylvania and Georgia respectively, focusing on recovering rare earths and critical minerals from coal ash and underclay, while also preparing these materials for potential commercial use.
U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm commented on this development, stating: "President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is helping narrow the nation’s dependence on foreign supply chains, by reimagining the use of coal waste and byproducts as a domestic source of the critical minerals needed for clean energy technologies." She further added that "the investments announced today will not only increase our national security and ensure a cleaner environment but will also help deliver high-quality jobs in all pockets of the country."
FECM is responsible for overseeing research, development, and demonstration efforts aimed at advancing technologies to meet climate goals and reduce environmental impacts from fossil fuel use. In addition to managing the Nation's Strategic Petroleum Reserve as an emergency response tool against energy supply disruptions, FECM is committed to addressing the legacy impacts of fossil fuel use on communities according to information provided by DOE on its FECM About webpage.
