A novel rare earth element (REE) technology, developed by researchers at West Virginia University (WVU) to mine and separate rare earth elements and critical minerals (CM) from coal waste and acid mine drainage, recently received a $8 million research grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. This technology helps power a variety of technologies in the United States, from smartphones to the missile guidance systems. This study, which is financed as part of President Joe Biden’s investing in America initiative, has the potential to have a positive influence on both the US economy and the environment.