Scientists find huge trove of rare metals needed for clean energy

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🗞️ Driving the news: Scientists at the University of Texas at Austin found that coal ash, a toxic byproduct of burning coal, could contain up to 11 million tons of rare earth elements
• These metals, vital for clean energy technologies, are worth an estimated $8.4 billion and could reduce reliance on foreign imports
• This discovery transforms coal ash from a waste product into a potential resource

🔭 The context: Rare earth elements like neodymium and yttrium are essential for technologies like wind turbines and electric vehicles
• Currently, the U.S. imports over 95% of its rare earth metals, mainly from China
• Coal ash, abundant in the U.S., offers a domestic source, although extracting these metals is complex and expensive

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: This discovery could mitigate environmental harm by repurposing coal waste while supporting the clean energy transition
• However, extracting these elements from coal ash poses challenges, including the use of harsh chemicals, which could lead to additional environmental risks

⏭️ What's next: The Biden administration is investing $17.5 million in projects to extract rare earth elements from coal waste
• Researchers aim to refine extraction methods and explore the feasibility of large-scale operations while ensuring no incentives are created for new coal usage

💬 One quote: “This really exemplifies the ‘trash to treasure’ mantra. We’re basically trying to close the cycle and use waste and recover resources in the waste.” — Bridget Scanlon, research professor, University of Texas at Austin

📈 One stat: The U.S. produces 70 million tons of coal ash annually and stores over 2 billion tons nationwide

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