Assistant Energy Secretary David Sandalow has asked that TREM members be made aware of the following press release.

DOE Announces RFI on Rare Earth Metals

Washington, D.C. – The Department of Energy has released a Request for Information (RFI) soliciting information on rare earth metals and other materials used in the energy sector.

The request is specifically focused on rare earth metals (e.g., lanthanum, cerium and neodymium) and several other metals including lithium and cobalt, but respondents are welcome to identify other materials of interest. These materials are important to the development and deployment of a variety of clean energy technologies, such as wind turbines, hybrid vehicles, solar panels and energy efficient light bulbs.

In a March 17 speech, Assistant Secretary of Energy for Policy & International Affairs David Sandalow announced that DOE is developing its first-ever strategic plan concerning rare earth metals and other materials in energy components, products and processes. Assistant Secretary Sandalow said, “Clean energy technologies create jobs, cut costs and reduce pollution. The information we’re requesting today will help guide the Department of Energy as it helps shape a clean energy future.”  

The responses to the RFI will help inform DOE’s understanding of supply and demand for these materials, opportunities for developing substitutes and the potential for using these materials more efficiently.  Responses are due no later than 5:00pm (EDT) on June 7, 2010, and should be submitted electronically to materialstrategy@hq.doe.gov.

For more information, view the Materials Strategy RFI (pdf - 76 kb) or read Assistant Secretary Sandalow’s speech (pdf - 49 kb).

Media contact(s):
(202) 586-4940

Rare Earth Materials in the Defense Supply Chain

Today, the US Government Accountability Office announced its response to the the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (Pub. L. No. 111-84), which required GAO to submit a report on rare earth materials in the defense supply chain to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives by April 1, 2010.

The full text of the report can be found here:

http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d10617r.pdf

Congressman Coffman Announces RESTART Bill Introduction

In keeping with the high impact of our event, on March 18, 2010 Congressman Mike Coffman (CO-6) reported on the new Rare Earth Supply-chain Technology and Resources Transformation Act (RESTART Act) introduced the day before in Congress.

The Act would require that the United States develop a policy to:

"take any and all actions necessary to ensure the reintroduction of a competitive domestic rare earth supply chain, to include the reintroduction of the capacity to conduct mining, refining / processing, alloying and manufacturing operations using domestic suppliers to provide a secure source of rare earth materials as a vital component of national security and economic policy."

The full text of the proposed act is in the following document.

RESTART Act (hr4866) [.pdf]

Assistant Secretary Sandalow Announces New Initiative

The inaugural policy summit of TREM is truly a unique event. At our proceedings on March 17, 2010, Assistant Energy Secretary David Sandalow has announced a new initiative.

"I am today announcing that the Department of Energy will develop its first-ever strategic plan for addressing the role of rare earth and other strategic materials in clean energy technologies. The plan will apply the approaches described above and draw on the strengths of the Department in technology innovation. We will build on work on these topics already underway, including in DOE’s national labs, and work closely with colleagues from other agencies throughout the U.S. government. We will solicit broad public input, including from the stakeholders and experts here in this room."

Full text in the following document.

Sandalow Rare Earth Speech - final.pdf