Office: Office of Resource Sustainability 
FOA Number: DE-FOA-0002618 
Download the full FOA: FedConnect 

Background Information  

On April 4, 2023, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $16 million in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to bring critical mineral supply chains to America and reduce reliance on competitors like China. The funding will support projects in West Virginia and North Dakota for the development of a first-of-a-kind rare earth element and critical minerals extraction and separation refinery. Rare earth elements and other critical minerals and materials are key to manufacturing clean energy technologies right here in America that will help the nation reach the Biden-Harris Administration’s goal of a net-zero emissions economy by 2050. 

The United States imports more than 80% of its rare earth elements and critical minerals to produce clean energy technologies and other indispensable products that we rely on every day such as smart phones, computers, and medical equipment. Across the country, there are billions of tons of coal waste and ash, mine tailings, acid mine drainage, and discharged water. These waste streams from mining, energy production, and related activities contain a wide variety of valuable rare earth elements and other critical minerals that can be produced and used to build clean energy technologies, while helping to create healthier environments for communities across the country. 

This funding is provided from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Sections 40205 and 41003(b).

The deadline to submit applications for this funding opportunity has closed.

Awardees

Projects will study how they can extract critical minerals from coal mine waste streams as the first of two project phases. Over a period of about 15 months, these detailed engineering and cost studies will identify risks and costs and will solidify plans for developing economically viable processes to extract, separate, and produce rare earth elements and critical minerals from the nation’s vast quantities of mining wastes that won’t be harmful to the environment. Following completion of the studies and a period of technical review, these projects will have the opportunity to apply for Phase II funding for construction and operation of the demonstration-scale facility.

Awardees include:

• University of North Dakota
• West Virginia University

A detailed list of the selected projects can be found here.

Funding  

Phase 2 

DOE expects to make one (1) award (competitively down-selected) for up to $124 million with a minimum of a 50% cost-sharing from the awardee. 

Webinar  

An informational webinar was hosted on October 13, 2022 at 2:00 PM ET to discuss this funding opportunity as well as the application requirements. 

Watch the recording here

Attending the informational webinar is not mandatory and will not positively or negatively impact the overall review of any applicant submissions.  

Key Dates

Additional Information 

• Download the full funding opportunity on FedConnect. 
• All applicants must register and apply on Grants.gov and submit questions through FedConnect 

Last Updated: April 4, 2023