The bill directs the Secretary of Energy to support research, development, and demonstrations of technology that extracts critical minerals from brine. Demonstrations would be done with private industry to improve performance and reduce costs. Within one year of enactment, the Energy Secretary, working with the Commerce and Defense Secretaries, would report on the technology’s technical and economic feasibility, barriers to domestic use, and possible federal-private partnerships.
The bill focuses on research and industry demonstrations. It does not describe a direct service or benefit for individuals.
The bill authorizes $2 million for each fiscal year from 2026 through 2030 for the research and development activities. This is an authorization, not a statement that the funds have been appropriated.
The bill’s stated aim is to support domestic mineral extraction and reduce reliance on imports. It also seeks to improve extraction performance and reduce costs. No publicly available information about proponents' views is provided.
No publicly available information.