U.S. Energy Department Supports Critical Minerals & Materials Supply Chain - CleanTechnica

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has made significant strides in bolstering the critical minerals and materials supply chains, a priority advanced under President Biden and supported by Democrats in Congress. Despite initial delays and uncertainties, the Trump administration has continued backing this sector, recognizing its importance for future technology and economic growth. Recently, the DOE issued nearly $1 billion in notices of funding opportunities (NOFOs) aimed at advancing mining, processing, and manufacturing technologies across key stages of these supply chains. Key initiatives include the Critical Minerals and Materials (CMM) Accelerator program, which focuses on maturing technologies to enable domestic commercialization in areas such as rare-earth magnet supply chains, semiconductor materials, and lithium extraction. The Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management plans to allocate about $250 million to pilot recovery of valuable mineral byproducts at American industrial facilities. Additionally, the Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC) aims to enhance domestic rare earth element (REE) supply chains by supporting