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CMEI Selects Five To Restart Domestic Gallium Recovery
On April 14, 2026, the Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation (CMEI) announced approximately $5.4 million for projects in five states funded through the Technology for Recovery and Advanced Critical-material Extraction–Gallium initiative. Projects chosen will help establish a secure domestic supply chain for gallium, a critical material used primarily in the defense field and for the production of semiconductors. Developing domestic gallium supply chains will strengthen America’s national security and promote innovative technologies for gallium recovery from U.S. metal processing feedstocks.
The initiative is managed by ENERGYWERX in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), a collaboration made possible through a Partnership Intermediary Agreement set up by the DOE's Office of Technology Commercialization. This agreement enables ENERGYWERX to broaden DOE’s engagement with innovative organizations and nontraditional partners, facilitating the rapid development, scaling, and deployment of energy solutions and reducing reliance on foreign sources.
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 Apply Now: 2026 Waste to Energy and Materials Technical Assistance for State, Local, and Tribal Governments
CMEI’s Alternative Fuels and Feedstocks Office and the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) announced the launch of the 2026 Waste to Energy and Materials Technical Assistance Program for state, local, and Tribal governments. This program provides no-cost technical assistance to states, counties, municipalities, and Tribal governments to help them evaluate sensible end uses for their waste, whether repurposing it for on-site heat and power, upgrading it into transportation fuels, or using it for material and mineral recovery. This program was expanded beyond its previous scope to include solid waste materials like electronics, industrial wastewater, and other byproducts.
The application portal is open, and applications will be accepted through May 30, 2026.
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Audrey Robertson Addresses North American Prospect Expo
In February, Assistant Secretary of Energy (EERE) Audrey Robertson attended the 2026 North American Prospect Expo in Houston, Texas. The summit, which brought together domestic and international leaders and visionaries, hosted several discussions on energy-related topics. During her visit, Assistant Secretary Robertson delivered a presentation on the need to address the critical minerals crisis the nation is facing.
From advancing American manufacturing to applying innovation to methods of critical minerals mining, processing, and recycling, Assistant Secretary Robertson shared CMEI’s efforts to ensure America has access to the materials needed to power modern life—prioritizing projects that work toward securing critical mineral supply chains, modernizing the production and reuse of materials, and reshoring American manufacturing. All are critical to a reliable, affordable energy future.
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DOE-funded Research Advances Process for Purifying the Critical Material Graphite
DOE-funded research has developed an advanced process for purifying graphite, providing an opportunity to reduce dependence on imports of high-quality graphite and strengthen the domestic supply chain for this critical material, which is used in high-tech components and applications throughout the economy.
CMEI’s Alternative Fuels and Feedstocks Office awarded funding to NeoGraf Solutions to lower the cost of fuel cells—a technology that converts multiple fuels into electricity and heat by improving the purity of graphite used in key components such as bipolar plates.
NeoGraf and its research and development partners successfully reduced impurities to a level that would enable significantly lower manufacturing scrap rates (and therefore lower overall fabrication costs), making it possible to meet DOE’s bipolar-plate cost target of ≤$5 per kilowatt.
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DOE, Argonne Lab, Industry Partner on EcoCAR Innovation Challenge
DOE and Argonne National Laboratory have announced the 20 universities and two vehicle platforms taking part in the EcoCAR Innovation Challenge. This latest edition of DOE’s Advanced Vehicle Technology Competitions series challenges university students to design and build intelligent mobility solutions and innovative products using emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence. This is the 15th series, which is designed to create a pipeline for future automotive engineers.
General Motors and Stellantis have signed on as sponsors with technology partner MathWorks to encourage these future innovators. Assistant Secretary Robertson said she hoped the EcoCAR Innovation Challenge would “fast-track technological breakthroughs, improve the competitiveness of the American auto industry, and expand the range of options available to American consumers.”
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