Idaho Stakeholders Collaborate on Rare Earth Metals
Idaho Strategic Resources has secured $1 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy for critical material innovation. Announced on May 19th, the project emphasises innovative and low-emission manufacturing pathways for rare earth metals sourced from Idaho minerals.
Collaboration is key, with the University of Idaho, Idaho National Laboratory, and Idaho Geological Survey joining forces. Together, they aim to explore and extract rare earth elements such as neodymium, praseodymium, and dysprosium from central Idaho. This endeavor could lead to the commercialization of these metals.
John Swallow, the CEO and President of Idaho Strategic Resources, remarked, “There isn’t a better time to see this caliber of Idaho stakeholders coming together to champion Idaho’s substantial rare earth elements mineral endowment.”
Project Goals and Stakeholder Roles
Falling under the Department of Energy’s Funding Opportunity 3105, Topic Area 3: Next Generation Technologies, the project focuses on high-impact technologies with a low technology readiness level. These technologies aim to transform the U.S. mineral extraction and manufacturing processes without relying on existing methods.
Idaho Strategic Resources will pinpoint areas within its landholdings that are rich in rare earth elements. Collaborating with the University of Idaho, they will collect samples for further research. During this process, Idaho National Laboratory and Idaho Geological Survey will offer technical guidance.
The awarded $1 million supports downstream work led by the University of Idaho, aligning well with Idaho Strategic’s proposed rare earth elements work season during 2026. Notably, there is no direct cost share required from Idaho Strategic Resources as the industry partner.
Initially submitted in December 2023, the project’s selection underscores the collaborative efforts of Idaho stakeholders. This alignment is vital for achieving ambitious goals in reshoring the critical minerals industry in the U.S.
