NETL brought its considerable critical minerals and materials knowledge to bear while helping to create the Critical Minerals Leadership Academy (CMLA), a program focused on building capacity and expertise in the field. The University of Wyoming School of Energy Resources hosted the event, which convened graduate students and early career professionals.

“By getting involved early in the planning process, we were able to leverage our expertise to help shape the program’s content and ensure its alignment with broader U.S. Department of Energy critical minerals initiatives,” said NETL’s Scott Montross, one of the Lab’s technology managers overseeing the Critical Minerals and Materials program.

Critical minerals and materials (CMM), including rare earth elements (REEs), are essential for the manufacturing of virtually all modern technology, including those used in hydrocarbon energy production and national defense, but the U.S. currently imports greater than 80% of its REEs from non-domestic suppliers. Realizing the need to secure the nation’s CMM supply chain, President Trump signed an executive order that highlights the need to immediately increase domestic mineral production. 

“To meet these goals, we will need to cultivate world-class experts and build foundational collaborations across the nation,” Montross said. “The CMLA aims to do just that — assemble future leaders with diverse backgrounds to build a strong domestic critical minerals network and contribute to the build-out of the United States CMM industry.”

This past summer marked the inaugural CMLA program at UW, which was hosted by the university’s School of Energy Resources. Nineteen people participated in lectures, workshops and field excursions throughout Wyoming. Montross was joined by his NETL colleague Tom Tarka in presenting lectures on CMM supply chains, geologic resource assessment and modeling, and mining techniques, along with many other CMM experts.

“CMLA was the perfect educational experience: consolidating the entire critical mineral valuation chain down to the need-to-knows,” said Samuel Oswald, member of the cohort and U.S. policy advisor. “It was the perfect networking experience: connecting a curated group of engaged and impactful scientists, geologists, government officials, academics and businesspeople.”

Amber Spears, cohort member and assistant professor at Tennessee State University said, “The CMLA was essential for learning more about the current state of the mining life cycle/supply chain, as well as cutting-edge research and industry projects happening across the United States.”

NETL is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Laboratory dedicated to innovating and accelerating the nation’s energy solutions in hydrocarbon, geothermal energy and critical minerals production. With research sites in Albany, Oregon; Morgantown, West Virginia; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, NETL operates as one laboratory to create advanced energy technologies that support DOE’s mission and enable affordable, reliable and secure energy to fuel human prosperity.