The U.S. Department of Energy selected four projects for $73 million through its Mine of the Future initiative to create domestic testing grounds for advanced mining technologies. The projects aim to move innovations from laboratories into real-world mining environments, improve productivity and safety, and strengthen U.S. critical-mineral supply chains.
The selected projects in West Virginia, Colorado, Arizona, Missouri, and Texas will develop testbeds for technologies including automation, electrification, digital connectivity, advanced processing, drilling, and sensing. The facilities will also support workforce training and help reduce the risks of commercializing new mining technologies.
