$30 Million Investment in Domestic Critical Minerals Supply Chain

author: FutureCar Staff    

Funding from President Biden's Investing in America Agenda will have a significant impact on various aspects of the country. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a funding of up to $30 million to support the onshore production of rare earths and other critical minerals and materials from domestic coal-based resources. This funding, provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, aims to meet the increasing demand for critical minerals in the United States and reduce dependence on offshore supplies.

Rare earths and other critical minerals play a crucial role in the manufacturing of clean energy technologies, such as solar panels, wind turbines, electric vehicles, and hydrogen fuel cells. By extracting these materials from coal, coal waste, and associated by-products, the initiative not only supports President Biden's climate agenda but also creates well-paying jobs in communities historically involved in fossil energy resources. This aligns with the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to revitalizing energy communities and ensuring equitable access to benefits through the Justice40 Initiative.

U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm emphasizes the importance of President Biden's agenda in rebuilding America's manufacturing sector by enhancing the country's ability to produce critical minerals necessary for clean energy technologies. The transformative investments made through this agenda reduce reliance on foreign supply chains and generate high-quality jobs in communities that have been instrumental in powering the nation for generations.

The United States currently imports over 80% of its rare earth demand from non-domestic suppliers, as reported by the U.S. Geological Survey's National Mineral Information Center. However, rare earth elements are naturally present in domestic coal and coal wastes. The funding opportunity announced today aims to tap into this unconventional resource and establish a domestic supply chain that is critical to the U.S. economy, clean energy, and national security.

The program will fund research for laboratory and bench-scale testing of economically viable and environmentally friendly extraction, separation, and refining technologies. It will initially focus on unconventional coal-based resources to produce rare earths and critical minerals for use in clean energy, national defense, and commercial commodity products and equipment.

With these investments and initiatives, President Biden's agenda is driving the United States towards a more sustainable and self-reliant future, while also creating opportunities for economic growth and job creation.

FutureCar Staff