Indiana Launches Rare Earth Recovery Initiative to Bolster U.S. Supply Chain Independence

Highlights

• Governor Mike Braun signs Executive Order 25-62 to recover rare earth elements from coal sites, reducing U.S. dependence on foreign sources.
• Indiana establishes Rare Earth Recovery Council to collaborate with industry and academic partners on extracting critical materials.
• Initiative supports national security and economic growth by developing a domestic supply chain for advanced technology components.

Governor Mike Braun has signed Executive Order 25-62 (opens in a new tab), initiating a strategic effort to recover rare earth elements and critical materials from Indiana's coal sites. This move aims to reduce U.S. reliance on foreign sources, particularly China, for these essential components used in advanced technologies.

The order establishes the Indiana Rare Earth Recovery Council, which will collaborate with industry and academic partners to develop technologies for extracting and refining rare earth elements from coal and its byproducts. Indiana's significant coal production and legacy coal byproducts position the state to contribute substantially to a domestic supply chain for these materials.

Governor Braun emphasized the importance of this initiative for national security and economic growth, stating, "American advanced manufacturing can’t be dependent on China for rare earth elements. Indiana is stepping up with our new Rare Earth Recovery Council to leverage our coal sites to build an American domestic supply chain for these critical materials that power the modern economy."

This executive order aligns with broader national efforts to secure critical mineral resources and reflects Indiana's commitment to environmental health and economic leadership.