Grant Round 109
The Forge Project: Rare Earth & Critical Materials Integration
Lignite Energy Council Education Program
Bakken Cracking the Code 2.0: Broad Infrastructure & Development for CO2-Based EOR
Demonstration of REE-CM Exploration & Characterization Technologies for ND Lignite
FY26-109-268 The Forge Project: Rare Earth & Critical Materials Integration
- Sponsor: Ore Spring Materials, LLC by AmeriCarbon Enterprises, LLC
- Objective: The objective of this project is to demonstrate an integrated process that combines carbon manufacturing with rare earth element and critical mineral recovery from North Dakota lignite. The project will optimize feedstocks, recover valuable critical minerals, and support commercial-scale deployment of an integrated manufacturing facility.
- Funded Amount: $1,175,000
- Total Project Cost: $4,600,000
FY26-109-269 Lignite Energy Council Education Program
- Sponsor: Lignite Energy Council
- Objective: The objective of the Lignite Education Program is to educate teachers and students about North Dakota's lignite industry through seminars, tours, outreach events, and educational resources. The program aims to increase awareness of the industry's role in energy production, economic development, and career opportunities by providing accurate and up-to-date educational materials.
- Funded Amount: $550,000
- Total Project Cost: $1,150,000
FY26-109-270 Bakken Cracking the Code 2.0: Broad Infrastructure & Development for CO2-Based EOR
- Sponsor: Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC)
- Objective: The objective of this project is to evaluate the infrastructure needed to capture, transport, and deliver carbon dioxide from North Dakota industrial facilities for enhanced oil recovery in the Bakken. The project will identify pathways to support long-term COâ‚‚ markets that strengthen the state's lignite and petroleum industries while sustaining energy production and economic growth.
- Funded Amount: $5,000,000
- Total Project Cost: $10,000,000
FY26-109-271 Demonstration of REE-CM Exploration & Characterization Technologies for ND Lignite
- Sponsor: Microbeam Technologies, LLC.
- Objective: The objective of this project is to demonstrate and evaluate technologies for identifying rare earth elements and critical minerals in North Dakota lignite while characterizing the Center Mine coal resource. The project will improve exploration methods, enhance understanding of REE and critical mineral occurrence, and support future resource development.
- Funded Amount: $971,225
- Total Project Cost: $1,956,105
Grant Round 108
Enhance, Preserve, Protect the North Dakota Coal Industry
Pilot Expansion and Testing for Improving Lignite Fuels and REE Processing
Efficient Refining of Germanium Metal from Fly Ash-Derived Concentrates
Feasibility Study: CO2 Free Coal Liquefaction, and Germanium and Rare Earths Recovery from Coal Liquefaction Byproducts
Hydraulic Welbore Mining for Rare Earths in North Dakota Lignites
Confidential Application
FY25-108-265 Enhance, Preserve, Protect the North Dakota Coal Industry
- Sponsor: Lignite Research Council
- Objective: The objective of the Enhance, Preserve and Protect (EPP) Project is to support the long-term sustainability of North Dakota's lignite industry by addressing regulatory and policy challenges, advancing technology development, and supporting energy initiatives. The project will preserve existing lignite resources, promote new opportunities for lignite utilization, and strengthen the state's economy through reliable, low-cost energy production.
- Funded Amount: $3,316,695
- Total Project Cost: $3,316,695
FY25-108-266 Pilot Expansion and Testing for Improving Lignite Fuels and REE Processing
- Sponsor: University of North Dakota
- Objective: The objective of this project is to enhance UND's pilot-scale rare earth elements and critical minerals facility by improving extraction processes, expanding pilot capabilities, and demonstrating production of premium lignite fuel from coal cleanings. The project will support commercialization of rare earth recovery technologies, create higher-value products from North Dakota lignite, and prepare for a future commercial-scale demonstration.
- Funded Amount: $1,100,000
- Total Project Cost: $2,200,000
FY26-108-032 Efficient Refining of Germanium Metal from Fly Ash-Derived Concentrates (Project Withdrawn)
- Sponsor: Microbeam Technologies, Inc.
- Objective: The objective of this project is to demonstrate an efficient process for producing high-purity germanium metal from germanium-rich concentrates derived from lignite fly ash. The project will reduce production costs and environmental impacts while strengthening the domestic supply of this critical mineral.
- Funded Amount: $400,000
- Total Project Cost: $1,200,000
Grant Round 107
Development of Next-Generation Carbon Capture Technologies for Efficiency Improvement and Cost Reduction
Commercial Plant Design Optimization: Lignite to Critical Carbon Materials
FY25-107-264: Development of Next-Generation Carbon Capture Technologies for Efficiency Improvement and Cost Reduction
- Sponsor: Energy & Environmental Resource Center
- Objective: Enhance the existing engineering-scale carbon dioxide (CO2) capture test center to rapidly and cost effectively test carbon capture (CC) technologies and evaluate the technical efficacy of advanced systems with data generated under relevant power plant operating conditions.
- Funded Amount: $1,462,000
- Total Project Cost: $6,095,833
FY25-107-265: Commercial Plant Design Optimization: Lignite to Critical Carbon Materials
- Sponsor: AmeriCarbon Products
- Objective: Complete the Front-End Loading (FEL3) engineering design for a first-of-its-kind commercial-scale manufacturing facility that converts North Dakota lignite into Eco-Pitch™—a critical input for advanced carbon materials for strategic industries.
- Funded Amount: $1,499,653
- Total Project Cost: $2,999,653
Grant Round 106
Carbon Core, Rare Earth, and Critical Minerals (CORE-CM) Initiative-Phase II
The Regulatory and Litigation Support Project for the ND Lignite Industry
FY25-106-262: Carbon Ore, Rare Earth, and Critical Minerals (CORE-CM) Initiative-Phase II
- Sponsor: Energy & Environmental Research Center
- Objective: Phase II work scope for the CORE-CM team focused on producing rare-earth elements (REEs), critical minerals (CMs), and nonfuel carbon-based products (CBPs) from Williston Basin coals.
- Funded Amount: $1,500,000
- Total Project Cost: $3,830,000
FY25-106-263: The Regulatory and Litigation Support Project for the ND Lignite Industry
- Sponsor: Lignite Energy Council
- Objective: Two years of funding to provide support for the collaborative efforts of the lignite industry and ND government agencies in responding to federal agency rulemakings.
- Funded Amount: $1,325,000
- Total Project Cost: $1,325,000
Grant Round 105
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL)-Production of Germanium and Gallium Concentrates for Industrial Processes
Williston Basin Regional Initiative Technical Assistance Partnership: Support for Continuation of the PCOR Partnership
Coal Creek Carbon Capture: Geologic CO2 Storage Complex Development Add-On
FY25-105-259: Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL)-Production of Germanium and Gallium Concentrates for Industrial Processes
- Sponsor: Microbeam Technologies
- Objective: Demonstrate germanium and gallium extraction from North Dakota Lignite at the bench-scale and develop a conceptual design to extract, separate, recover and purify germanium and gallium from mixed rare earth element concentrates at lower costs than current methods.
- Funded Amount: $376,000
- Total Project Cost: $3,134,978
FY25-105-260: Williston Basin Regional Initiative Technical Assistance Partnership: Support for Continuation of the PCOR Partnership
- Sponsor: Energy & Environmental Resource Center
- Objective: Identify and address storage and transport challenges facing commercial CCUS deployment in the Williston Basin.
- Funded Amount: $1,250,000
- Total Project Cost: $6,250,000
FY25-105-261: Coal Creek Carbon Capture: Geologic CO2 Storage Complex Development Add-On
- Sponsor: Energy & Environmental Resource Center
- Objective: Work with Rainbow Energy Center toward commercial storage of carbon dioxide from the Coal Creek Station which would include coring, injection testing, and modeling.
- Funded Amount: $5,150,874
- Total Project Cost: $10,945,607
Grant Round 104
Continued Funding for Regional Lignite Public Affairs Program
Phase I Bridge Study for CCS at Coal Creek Station
Lignite Conversion Reactor Optimization for Commercial Carbon Pitch Manufacturing
FY24-104-256: Continued Funding for Regional Lignite Public Affairs Program
- Sponsor: Lignite Energy Council
- Objective: To sustain and enhance public perception and stakeholder knowledge regarding the importance of coal-based electricity in the State of North Dakota and the surrounding region, promote its benefits, and drive adoption and investment in emerging markets and value-added initiatives derived from the lignite industry.
- Funded Amount: $1,800,000
- Total Project Cost: $3,600,000
FY24-104-257: Phase I Bridge Study for CCS at Coal Creek Station
- Sponsor: Rainbow Energy Center
- Objective: This project will support Rainbow Energy Center’s (REC’s) Coal Creek Station carbon capture plant front-end engineering and design (FEED) through Phase I of a bridge study focused on creating the most cost-effective plant while ensuring a high level of reliability.
- Funded Amount: $1,094,416
- Total Project Cost: $2,188,833
FY24-104-258: Lignite Conversion Reactor Optimization for Commercial Carbon Pitch Manufacturing
- Sponsor: AmeriCarbon Products, LLC
- Objective: Design, construct, and operate a commercial scale carbon products manufacturing facility in McLean County, North Dakota that will use North Dakota lignite in AmeriCarbon’s patented and proprietary Liquid Carbon Process to manufacture Eco-Pitch, a 100% domestically sourced alternative to coal tar pitch, a critical supply material for the production of synthetic graphite, asphalt binder, and other carbon materials.
- Funded Amount: $743,809
- Total Project Cost: $1,488,809
Grant Round 103
High-Value Products from Water Mineralized via Reaction with Anthropogenic CO2
FY23-103-255: High-Value Products from Produced Water Mineralization via Reaction with Anthropogenic CO2
- Sponsor: Semplastics EHC LLC
- Objective: Develop and demonstrate a cost-effective method to mineralize sodium and other Group 1 elements as well as Group 2 elements in produced water with high levels of total dissolved solids (TDS) while capturing and sequestering carbon dioxide (CO2).
- Funded Amount: $100,000
- Total Project Cost: $356,494
Grant Round 102
Lignite Energy Council Education Program
Redundancy Study for CO2 Capture at Coal Creek Station
Coal Creek Carbon Capture-Geologic CO2 Storage Complex Development
Engineering Design and Feasibility Analysis for Commercial Graphite and Asphalt Manufacturing from Lignite-Derived Carbon Pitch
Williston Basin CORE-CM Initiative-Continued Assessment
Assessment of Lignite-Based Industrial Residues for Value-Added Product Creation through CO2 Mineralization
Recovery and Refining of Rare Earth Elements from Lignite Mine Wastes
FY23-102-248: Lignite Energy Council Education Program
- Sponsor: Lignite Energy Council (LEC)
- Objective: Educate teachers and students about the lignite industry through in-person connection, community outreach events, and online educational and awareness opportunities.
- Funded Amount: $450,000
- Total Project Cost: $908,000
FY23-102-249: Redundancy Study for CO2 Capture at Coal Creek Station
- Sponsor: Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC)
- Objective: To support Rainbow Energy Center's (REC) Coal Creek Station carbon capture plant front-end engineering design (FEED) study by providing critical cost-benefit data for utilizing targeted equipment redundancy to reduce the technological risk associated with investing in a post combustion capture retrofit project.
- Funded Amount: $837,313
- Total Project Cost: $1,400,000
FY23-102-250: Coal Creek Carbon Capture: Geologic CO2 Storage Complex Development
- Sponsor: University of ND (UND) & Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC)
- Objective: The objective of this study is to advance development of a geologic carbon dioxide (CO2) storage complex in central North Dakota to store CO2 captured from Coal Creek Station power plant.
- Funded Amount: $6,119,690
- Total Project Cost: $50,400,000
- Sponsor: Americarbon Products, LLC
- Objective: Design, construct, and operate a commercial scale carbon products manufacturing facility in McLean County, ND that will use North Dakota lignite in AmeriCarbon’s patented and proprietary Liquid Carbon Pitch (LCP) process to manufacture Eco-Pitch, a 100% domestic sourced alternative to coal tar pitch, a critical supply material for the production of synthetic graphite and other carbon materials.
- Funded Amount: $700,000
- Total Project Cost: $1,400,000
FY23-102-252: Williston Basin CORE-CM Initiative – Continued Assessment
- Sponsor: University of ND (UND) & Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC)
- Objective: Collect current, field-derived data through sampling and identifying areas that show potential for the development of a new industry as well as drive the expansion and transformation of the existing coal and coal-based resources industry in the Williston Basin to produce REEs, CMs, and CBPs.
- Funded Amount: $1,050,000
- Total Project Cost: $2,100,000
FY23-102-253: Assessment of Lignite-Based Industrial Residues for Value-Added Product Creation through CO2 Mineralization
- Sponsor: University of ND (UND)
- Objective: Assess the techno-economic feasibility of using carbon dioxide mineralization (CO2M) as an enabling pathway to beneficiation of ashes and dry sulfur scrubber residues produced at lignite-fired power plants that, today, represent both economic and environmental liabilities for the plant owners.
- Funded Amount: $250,000
- Total Project Cost: $1,250,000
FY23-102-254: Recovery and Refining of Rare Earth Elements from Lignite Mine Wastes
- Sponsor: University of ND (UND)
- Objective: Complete a Front-End Engineering & Design (FEED) study and develop business and financial plans for a commercial demonstration facility to recover and refine rare earth elements (REE) and critical minerals (CM) from North Dakota lignite mine wastes.
- Funded Amount: $2,000,000
- Total Project Cost: $7,999,999
Grant Round 101
Enhance Preserve and Protect the ND Lignite Industry
Lignite Resource Evaluation for Advanced Utilization Opportunities
FY22-101-247: Lignite Resource Evaluation for Advance Utilization Opportunities
- Sponsor: Microbeam Technologies, Inc.
- Objective: Characterize the lignite resources in existing coal mines to provide information on critical elements (including rare earths), waste coal materials, and associated sediments that are critical to the future utilization of the lignite resources.
- Funded Amount: $1,238,994.18
- Total Project Cost: $2,477,994.18
Grant Round 100
Incorporation of Coal and Coal Waste into High-Value Materials
Rare Earth Element Extraction and Concentration at Pilot-Scale from ND Coal-Related Feedstocks
FY22-100-245: Incorporation of Coal and Coal Waste into High-Value Materials
- Sponsor: Semplastics EHC LLC
- Objective: Further the ongoing effort led by Semplastics to integrate coal and coal ash into plastics to make safe and strong building materials. The project would include two efforts focused on 1.) manufacturing with large 3D printers, and 2.) assembling a partial building using coal-based material. The technological target is to provide new improved building materials out of lignite-based resources and economic impact is to provide additional markets for lignite-based resources.
- Funded Amount: $150,000
- Total Project Cost: $742,050
FY22-100-246: Incorporation of Coal and Coal Waste into High-Value Materials
- Sponsor: Semplastics EHC LLC
- Objective: The proposed project would further the ongoing effort led by Semplastics to integrate coal and coal ash into plastics to make safe and strong building materials. The project would include two efforts focused on 1.) manufacturing with large 3D printers, and 2.) assembling a partial building using coal-based material. The technological target is to provide new improved building materials out of lignite-based resources and the economic impact is to provide additional markets for lignite-based resources.
- Funded Amount: $700,000
- Total Project Cost: $3,464,583