The North Dakota Industrial Commission (Commission) approved funding for a lignite research project on March 30. The project involves evaluating the resource potential for rare earth elements (REEs) and critical minerals (CMs) from selected coal seams in southwest North Dakota. The project was recommended by the Lignite Research Council to receive state funding earlier in the month.

The nine-month project is expected to cost about $1.1 million with the investment divided between the state and Great Northern Properties, owner of the lignite reserves. The specific objectives of the project are to identify promising coals, characterize the coal in those seams, determine the extraction behavior of selected samples, and collect a large sample to allow the simulation of a full-scale extraction of rare earth elements and support a technical and economic assessment.

The demand for these elements in electric cars, wind generators, catalysts, cell phones, medical and military applications is growing dramatically. Currently, China is the primary source of rare earth elements; however, the United States would like to produce more domestically to ensure a reliable and affordable supply.

Steve Benson, Ph.D., is the president of Microbeam.

Microbeam Technologies Incorporated (MTI) of Grand Forks, North Dakota, will be the project lead along with the University of North Dakota, Stantec, Great Northern Properties and MLJ Consulting.

The Lignite Research Council recommended funding the grant proposals at its meeting on March 11 in Bismarck.

The Commission is a partner with the regional lignite industry in the Lignite Research Program. State dollars are leveraged with industry investments for research and demonstration projects. Since 1987 when the partnership began, the state has invested more than $90 million in lignite research funds. Total investment in more than 200-plus projects is in excess of $750 million.

Another round of Lignite R&D proposals will accepted by the Commission in April with the next Lignite Research Council meeting slated for May 13.

Besides state dollars, R&D funding also comes from industry sources such as mines and utilities, research entities such as the Energy & Environmental Research Center, and the Department of Energy.