Ranchester, Wyoming, July 12, 2025 — The groundbreaking of the Brook Mine project has signaled a historic shift in the United States’ approach to critical-mineral independence. Located in Sheridan County near Ranchester, the mine is the first rare-earth element (REE) extraction facility to break ground in the U.S. since the mid-20th century. With this launch, the U.S. moves one step closer to reclaiming control over supply chains vital to clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and national security.
The project, developed by Ramaco Resources, has been years in the making. Rare-earth elements such as neodymium, dysprosium, and terbium are essential components in electric vehicle motors, wind turbines, semiconductors, smartphones, and military hardware. Historically, the U.S. has relied on imported REEs—primarily from China, which currently dominates global production and refining. This reliance has raised concerns in Washington about strategic vulnerability, especially amid rising geopolitical tensions and trade restrictions.
The Brook Mine stands as a response to those concerns. Backed by state support and private capital, the site is expected to produce over 1,200 short tons of rare-earth oxides annually, with a projected operational lifespan of more than 40 years. The initiative has already received a $6.1 million grant from the Wyoming Energy Authority to develop a pilot processing facility, aimed at advancing the U.S. capacity to refine and separate these elements domestically.
Federal and state officials attended the July 12 ceremony, including Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon, and Senators John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis. All emphasized the strategic importance of building out domestic REE infrastructure. “This is a foundational moment,” said Governor Gordon. “We’re not just breaking ground on a mine—we’re breaking dependence on foreign mineral sources.”
Senator Barrasso, a long-time advocate for U.S. energy independence, echoed that sentiment. He stressed that the success of the Brook Mine will not only fuel local economies but also bolster national resilience in a time of increasing global competition for resources.
The mine will also play a crucial role in regional development. As construction begins, the project is expected to create hundreds of jobs, support local suppliers, and lead to major upgrades in nearby infrastructure. Local officials are already implementing plans to improve roads, expand utility access, and explore housing development options to accommodate expected population growth.
Unlike traditional rare-earth operations, which often produce environmentally harmful byproducts, the Brook Mine will use a carbon-ore-based extraction method that minimizes radioactive waste and reduces environmental impact. This approach could set a new standard for cleaner and more sustainable REE mining in the U.S.
The broader significance of the Brook Mine lies in its alignment with federal goals to strengthen domestic supply chains for clean energy components. As the U.S. accelerates its transition to renewable technologies—such as wind, solar, and electric vehicles—demand for rare-earth elements is projected to skyrocket. Having a secure, domestic source of these materials will be critical to scaling up clean energy deployment and reducing price volatility.
Moreover, the project comes at a time when other domestic efforts to build rare-earth capacity are still in early planning stages. Sites in Montana, Nebraska, and California are exploring similar ventures, but Brook Mine is the first to reach this stage of development in decades. Its success could encourage broader investment and public-private partnerships across the country.
For national security, too, the implications are clear. The Department of Defense has identified rare-earths as essential to military readiness and has already invested in other refining projects, including one in Texas linked to the MP Materials mine in California. The Brook Mine, by adding a new node to this emerging U.S. mineral network, further insulates the country from foreign disruptions.
In launching the Brook Mine, Wyoming is asserting itself as a new epicenter in the critical-minerals economy. The project blends economic revitalization, environmental innovation, and national strategic interest—laying the groundwork for a future where America mines and refines its own resources to meet the demands of a changing world.