DOE announces funding to expand U.S. critical materials

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation (CMEI) announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for up to $500 million to expand U.S. critical mineral and materials processing and derivative battery manufacturing and recycling. “For too long, the United States has relied on hostile foreign actors to supply and process the critical materials that…

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NETL aids U. of Wyoming in critical minerals academy

The U.S. National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) is helping to create the Critical Minerals Leadership Academy (CMLA) with the University of Wyoming School of Energy Resources, with the latter serving as host to the event. The gathering convened graduate students and early career professionals recently to open dialogue about critical minerals and materials (CMM), including rare earth elements (REEs). This…

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DoE investing millions for domestic essential mineral production, recovery

The U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) has confirmed an earmark of $17 million across 14 projects that will accelerate critical materials innovation while promoting safe, sustainable, economic, and efficient solutions to meet current and future supply chain needs. The projects, which span 11 states, are strengthening and streamlining manufacturing for high-impact components and technologies such as hydrogen fuel cells, magnets…

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Rare Element Resources gets DOE greenlight for Wyoming plant

Colorado-headquartered Rare Element Resources has received a project continuation notice from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy for its planned rare earth processing and separation demonstration plant in Upton, Wyoming. The notice comes after the DOE’s recent completion of its National Environmental Policy Act review for the project and allows RER to begin…

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Wyoming rare earth demo project advances

Strategic materials company Rare Element Resources said its planned rare earth processing and separation demonstration project in Upton, Wyo., has hit a new milestone – 60% plant design completion. The project, led by General Atomics, is now advancing toward final detailed engineering due for completion later this year. The team recently completed a key design milestone with the Department of…

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U.S. DOE launches mine-to-clean energy initiative

The U.S. Department of Energy has issued a request for information (RFI) for its planned US$500 million program that will install clean energy projects on the sites of current or former mine lands across the country. Formally funded by the Biden administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the program is now seeking input on clean energy projects that “will help revitalize energy…

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Building blocks for reimagining sustainability

By Donna Schmidt The idea of a house can take on many forms depending on location, environment, family size and a number of other factors. Materials to build these homes are just as diverse. But what about using coal? Recently, a southern West Virginia newcomer company X- MAT received US$2.2 million in funding from the Department of Energy for a…

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