Summary
- DOE announced $45 million in funding for projects to accelerate critical mineral supply chains
- Projects will focus on secondary and unconventional sources like coal and coal by-products
- Selected projects will cover various regions across the United States
- Teams will consist of partners from private industry, universities, and government agencies
- National Energy Technology Laboratory will manage the selected projects under FECM
Article
Six projects have received $45 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Energy to create regional consortia focused on accelerating the development of critical mineral and materials supply chains, including novel nonfuel carbon-based products from secondary and unconventional feedstocks. These investments aim to rebuild domestic supply chains for critical minerals and materials using abundant American secondary and unconventional sources. The projects will support American manufacturing and production of technologies essential to clean energy and national defense, while creating high-wage jobs and delivering environmental benefits for communities across the United States.
The selected projects will build upon the work of DOE’s Carbon Ore, Rare Earth and Critical Minerals Initiative, expanding the focus to cover eight regions across the nation. Teams composed of partners from private industry, universities, government entities, local communities, and Tribes will develop strategies to unlock each region’s economic potential for critical minerals and materials, as well as valuable non-fuel carbon-based products. The projects include efforts in various regions such as the Northwest, Upper Midwest, Gulf Coast and Permian Basin, Rocky Mountain region, Great Plains and Interior Highlands, and the Appalachian Mountain region.
Each project focuses on different aspects of identifying and evaluating critical minerals and materials in different regions of the United States. For example, the University of Alaska Fairbanks will work with state geological surveys to understand the geologic framework of mineral resource deposits in the Northwest, while the University of Texas at Austin will identify resource potential in the Gulf Coast and Permian Basin areas, including from petroleum industry waste, coal, and other nonfuel mine and processing wastes. The projects aim to create domestic supply chains that leverage secondary and unconventional critical mineral resources to support various industries.
The Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) at the DOE is responsible for managing the selected projects, which aim to reduce emissions from fossil energy production and key industrial processes while strengthening U.S. energy and critical minerals security. These investments will help the United States realize its full potential for recovery of critical resources, creating a path towards a clean energy and industrial economy. The DOE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) will manage the selected projects, with additional selections possible in the future.
FECM is investing in collaborative regional projects to create dependable and enduring supplies of critical minerals and materials that are essential for various industries. By focusing on secondary and unconventional sources, such as coal by-products, effluent waters from oil and gas development, and acid mine drainage, the United States can rebuild domestic supply chains and reduce reliance on imports. These investments will not only safeguard national security but also support the development of clean energy technologies and high-wage jobs in American manufacturing.
Overall, the funding provided by the DOE for these regional consortia projects represents a significant step towards developing sustainable supply chains for critical minerals and materials. By leveraging abundant American secondary and unconventional sources, these investments will support economic growth, job creation, and environmental benefits across the United States. Through collaboration with various partners, including industry, government, and academia, these projects will contribute to the resilience of the nation’s critical mineral supply chains and advance clean energy technologies essential for the future.
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