Governor Mike Braun signed two executive orders focused on the recovery of rare earth elements from coal byproducts and the development of a comprehensive water resource management plan.
Executive Order 25-62 aims to tap into Indiana’s coal reserves to recover rare earth elements and critical minerals. These minerals are essential to produce modern technologies, including smartphones, electric vehicles and renewable energy products. Currently, the U.S. relies on foreign countries, particularly China, for many of these critical materials.
The initiative will establish the Indiana Rare Earth Recovery Council, which will focus on reclaiming rare earth elements from coal byproducts. The Council will work with industry partners and academic institutions to explore new technologies, refine the materials locally and build a domestic supply chain.
Executive Order 25-63 addresses Indiana’s water resources, directing the Secretary of Energy and Natural Resources to lead a statewide inventory of water resources, including current usage, availability and future demand.
The inventory will focus on identifying regional disparities in water distribution across the state. A comprehensive water planning framework will be developed, with the goal of ensuring transparent cooperation between utilities, industries, municipalities and other users of water. Additionally, the order calls for the creation of a publicly accessible online platform to share real-time data on water resources, trends and infrastructure status.
To read a full list of Braun’s executive orders, visit in.gov/gov/newsroom/executive-orders/.
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Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854. Follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.
Hanna Rauworth is the Health & Environmental Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper, where she covers topics at the intersection of public health, environmental issues, and community impact. With a commitment to storytelling that informs and empowers, she strives to highlight the challenges and solutions shaping the well-being of Indianapolis residents.
