DOE to issue notice of funding opportunities around critical minerals

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management released a Notice of Intent to notify interested parties of its intent to release a “Mines & Metals Capacity Expansion – Piloting By-Product Critical Minerals and Materials Recovery at Domestic Industrial Facilities” notice of funding opportunity. “The planned NOFO will focus investments on American industrial facilities that have the potential to produce valuable mineral byproducts from existing industrial processes. President Donald J. Trump, recognizing the need to secure America’s critical material supply chain, included ‘critical minerals’ in the definition of Executive Order (EO) 14156, Declaring a National Energy Emergency, which highlighted the role critical materials play in all parts of the U.S. energy system, including hydrocarbon energy production, refining, and other industrial uses. President Trump also released EO 14241, Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production, which highlights the need to immediately increase domestic mineral production. Therefore, pursuant to sections 7001(a) and 7002(g) of the Energy Act of 2020, section 41003(b) – (c) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and the aforementioned EOs, this NOI announces the intent of FECM to issue a funding opportunity that leverages American industrial leadership to use the industries we have to recover the materials we need,” the DOE stated.