Critical Mineral Brine Extraction Research and Development Act
The Critical Mineral Brine Extraction Research and Development Act would direct the Secretary of Energy to support research, scale-up, evaluation, and potential commercialization of technology for extracting critical minerals from brine (saline water reservoirs). The aim is to reduce the United States’ dependence on imported critical minerals by advancing domestically developed extraction methods that could be more cost-effective and environmentally friendly than traditional mining. The bill also requires the DOE to run demonstrations in partnership with private industry to improve performance and lower costs, and to report within one year on the technical and economic feasibility of brine extraction, barriers to broader use, and options for Federal-private partnerships. Funding is authorized at $2 million per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
Key Points
- 1Directs the Secretary of Energy to support R&D on scaling up, evaluating, and potentially commercializing technology to extract critical minerals from brine, and to conduct demonstrations with private industry to improve performance and reduce costs.
- 2Requires a coordinated report to Congress within one year detailing the technical and economic feasibility of brine extraction, barriers to wider use, and options for federal-private partnerships to reduce costs and improve efficiency.
- 3Emphasizes collaboration with private sector partners during demonstrations to advance the technology and move toward potential commercialization.
- 4Authorizes $2,000,000 in appropriations for each fiscal year from 2026 through 2030 to carry out the bill’s provisions.
- 5Names a broad set of committees in both the House and Senate that will review the report and related activities, signaling cross-cutting oversight across science, commerce, energy, natural resources, and defense areas.