WASHINGTON, July 1 -- Sen. John Hoeven issued the following news release:
Senator John Hoeven today announced that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has selected the University of North Dakota (UND) for award negotiations under a $75 million initiative to advance the recovery of rare earth elements and other critical materials from coal and coal-based feedstocks. The pilot project will be located in Underwood, North Dakota, and is one of five projects selected nationwide. Earlier this year, Hoeven led an effort with the North Dakota congressional delegation calling on DOE to support UND's proposal. In a letter (https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2026.02.02-ND-Delegation-to-DOE-re-Critical-Minerals.pdf) to Energy Sec...