Rep. Johnson digs in on RARE Earth elements crucial to clean-energy, defense manufacturing
Reps. Johnson, Markey move to end China's monopoly, secure access to strategic minerals
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA) today introduced the Resource Assessment of Rare Earths (RARE) Act of 2011, which directs the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to conduct a three-year, comprehensive global mineral assessment of rare earth elements (REEs).
Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA), a national leader on energy and the environment and Ranking Member on the House Natural Resources Committee, is the lead original cosponsor of the bill.
Critical to high-tech clean-energy and defense manufacturing, rare earth elements (REEs) are strategic minerals used in the production of cutting-edge technologies such as wind turbines, advanced batteries, powerful magnets, and military radar systems.
China accounts for 97% of global rare earth element production and has demonstrated a willingness to restrict REE exports. The Chinese monopoly is a strategic vulnerability for the United States that could undermine national security and competitiveness in the defense and clean-energy sectors.
“Like President Obama, I am committed to a future powered by clean energy,” said Johnson. “Without secure access to rare earth elements, we will be unable to lead the world in cleantech. The RARE Act will dramatically advance our ability to access rare earths worldwide.”
The USGS global assessment, conducted with geological surveys of partner nations around the world, will identify and quantify individual rare earth elements in known deposits, improve understanding of the distribution and formation of rare earth element deposits, assess likely undiscovered deposits worldwide, analyze the state of the complete rare earths supply chain from mining to manufacturing, and recommend further research and steps to improve our understanding and ensure access.
Rep. Markey (D-Mass.), Ranking Member on the House Natural Resources Committee, said that if America is to keep pace with China and Germany in clean energy technology, access to rare earth elements will be crucial.
“From wind turbines to solar panels to energy efficient light bulbs, America needs a reliable supply of rare earth materials to manufacture our clean energy future,” said Markey. “Unfortunately, we have gone from self reliance in the production of our rare earth materials to 100 percent reliance on imports, mostly from China. This bill will help reverse that troubling trend and give industry the tools and information to get America back in the rare earths business.”
In a letter to Rep. Johnson, U.S. Magnetic Materials Association President Ed Richardson wrote: “This bill represents an important piece of a much-needed comprehensive approach to understanding current and future domestic and international supply of and demand for rare earth elements.”
Original cosponsors include Reps. Edward J. Markey, Chris Van Hollen, Ben Ray Luján, André Carson, John Garamendi, Rush Holt, Daniel Lipinski, and Michael Michaud.
Rare Earth Elements in the News
Got Yttrium? (March 28, 2011): But over the years, the U.S. saw domestic production of rare earths dwindle even as the metals became that much more important.
Source: Time
China to issue new rare earth export quotas (Mar 14, 2011): China will issue a second batch of rare earth export quotas later this year, but the total volume for 2011 has yet to be decided.
Source: Reuters
The race to make the world's strongest magnet (March 9, 2011): His team accidentally had created what was then, and continues to be, the world's strongest magnet -- made of a strange and little understood "rare earth" element called neodymium. That magnet would help revolutionize technology, powering wind turbine motors and giving juice to electric cars.
Source: CNN
As China slashes exports of rare earth elements, U.S. mine digs for more (February 20, 2011): Elements such as cerium, neodymium and dysprosium are crucial to the clean-tech and high-tech industries, but China has slashed exports. A Colorado firm hopes to fill the void by ratcheting up output from a mine in the Mojave Desert.
Source: Los Angeles Times
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