​The ElementUSA team collaborated with the University of Texas at Austin’s Jackson School of Geosciences to address challenges in sustainability and environmental impact within energy and materials sectors. Research efforts revealed coal ash waste as a significant source of rare earth elements (REEs), offering new opportunities for resource recovery and reducing the environmental footprint of coal-powered industries.

Coal ash, the chalky byproduct of burned coal, has accumulated for decades across the US. Recent findings suggest the national coal ash supply contains enough REEs to meet domestic demand without requiring additional mining.

Bridget Scanlon, research professor at the school’s Bureau of Economic Geology, emphasized the importance of utilizing waste to recover valuable resources while reducing environmental impacts. REEs, comprising 17 essential chemical components, are critical for modern technology and the energy transition, as they are used in batteries, magnets, solar panels, and other energy-related technologies.

​Rare earth elements are essential in various technologies such as batteries, electric vehicles, cell phones, and defense systems. However, the United States faces a challenge due to its relatively low supply of these elements compared to China. Fortunately, several companies in the United States are working together to address this issue by implementing various strategies.

One key strategy involves establishing rare earth element (REE) mines and processing facilities, as well as recovering, recycling, and reusing REEs from electronics waste. This multifaceted approach aims to boost the domestic supply of these critical elements.

Forbes has highlighted some companies in the United States leading the charge in solving America's rare earth element challenges. These companies are taking innovative approaches, such as recovering REEs from already mined materials rather than starting from scratch.

Among these companies is ElementUS, a partnership between DADA Holdings and Enervoxa. DADA Holdings specializes in investments and management in the metals and mining sector, while Enervoxa is a Canadian green tech company. Together, they formed ElementUS to extract rare earth elements and other vital minerals from bauxite residue.