Work to develop lignite coal as a domestic source of critical minerals and reduce U.S. reliance on China for those minerals.

John Hoeven · North Dakota · Republican

policy impact 0.68 specificity 0.82 extraction confidence 86%

Commitment kind: unknown. Promised action: not established. Promised outcome: not established. Deadline: unknown; not assumed expired.

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Occurrences

Evidence

legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown

Hoeven said he is working on Crack the Code 2.0 phase two, including developing lignite coal as a source of critical minerals. The release says UND is currently negotiating with DOE to finalize its award for an Underwood, North Dakota pilot project.

Unverified model/legacy excerpt; not proof. AI summary (separate from source): Most recent direct official update found near the lookback window shows continued action and a named North Dakota lignite/coal-feedstock pilot, but the award was still not finalized and no commercial production was shown.

partial same_term A for effort

Hoeven Working to Advance Coal-Based Fertilizer & Critical Mineral Production Under Second Phase of Crack the Code 2.0
primary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 88%

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legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown

DOE announced $75 million for five projects using coal and coal-based feedstocks to produce rare earth elements and other critical materials, listing the University of North Dakota among selected projects. DOE stated selections for award negotiations are not commitments to issue awards or funding.

Unverified model/legacy excerpt; not proof. AI summary (separate from source): DOE independently confirms the federal selection of UND under a coal-based critical-materials pilot initiative, directly aligned with the lignite/critical minerals goal, while also confirming the project remained in negotiation rather than fully funded or completed.

partial same_term A for effort

DOE’s Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation Awards $75 Million to Accelerate Critical Minerals and Materials Recovery from Coal and Coal-Based Feedstocks
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 91%

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Assessments

Public state: unverified As of unknown · legacy_unverified · . Original AI recommendation (not independently established): partial. same_term A for effort

Hoeven appears to have materially advanced the goal during his current Senate term through direct advocacy around Crack the Code 2.0 and a North Dakota lignite/coal-feedstock critical-minerals pilot. DOE selection of UND for award negotiations is meaningful progress toward developing lignite coal as a domestic critical-minerals source and reducing reliance on China, but the evidence shows negotiations rather than finalized funding, operational production, or demonstrated supply-chain reduction. The promised outcome has not been fully delivered yet.

provider codex_cli · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 90%