The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced nearly $10 million in funding for two projects that aim to extract rare earth elements and other critical minerals from coal, coal wastes, and coal by-products. These projects are part of President Biden's Investing in America agenda and are funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The goal is to lower costs, reduce environmental impact, and meet the growing demand for critical minerals in the United States while decreasing reliance on foreign supply chains. The projects will focus on utilizing secondary and unconventional resources, such as domestic coal reserves, waste coal, and coal ash, to produce rare earth elements and critical minerals essential for clean energy technologies. The California Institute of Technology and the University of Utah have been selected to conduct advanced testing to improve rare earth element separation and refining technologies. In addition to these specific projects, the DOE's Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) has allocated approximately $151 million for initiatives supporting critical minerals exploration, production, and processing in traditional mining and fossil fuel-producing communities. This includes funding for detailed front-end engineering and design studies for rare earth production facilities using coal-based feedstock materials. The FECM is dedicated to reducing environmental and climate impacts while working towards achieving net-zero emissions nationwide. Key focus areas include carbon capture, hydrogen production, methane emissions reduction, and critical minerals production. The agency also emphasizes community engagement and benefits, with a commitment to the President's Justice40 Initiative, aiming to ensure that disadvantaged communities benefit from federal investments in climate and clean energy projects.