Full Report

This Report lays out DOE's goals and objectives in securing a sustainable domestic supply of the 35 mineral commodities identified as critical in the list published in the Federal Register by the Secretary of the Interior.  The United States lacks domestic production of 14 of these commodities and is more than 50 percent import-reliant for 31. This import dependence puts industrial supply chains, United States companies, and material users at significant risk. DOE's crosscutting strategy is supported by three key pillars:

• Diversifying supply
• Developing substitutes
• Improving reuse & recycling

Full Report

Summary

This report examines the role of rare earth metals and other materials in the clean energy economy. In the report, DOE describes plans to (i) develop its first integrated research agenda addressing critical materials, building on three technical workshops convened by the Department during November and December 2010; (ii) strengthen its capacity for information-gathering on this topic; and (iii) work closely with international partners, including Japan and Europe, to reduce vulnerability to supply disruptions and address critical material needs. DOE will work with other stakeholders—including interagency colleagues, Congress and the public—to shape policy tools that strengthen the United States’ strategic capabilities. 

Full Report

Summary

This report examines the role that rare earth metals and other key materials play in clean energy technologies such as wind turbines, electric vehicles, solar cells, and energy-efficient lighting. The report found that several clean energy technologies use materials at risk of supply disruptions in the short term, with risks generally decreasing in the medium and long terms. Supply challenges for five rare earth metals (dysprosium, neodymium, terbium, europium, and yttrium) may affect clean energy technology deployment in the years ahead.