The celebration began by highlighting the research that will be conducted by USGS and Mines scientists, faculty, and students, providing a glimpse at the types of innovative research the facility will house. Topics touched on the future of both the energy and mineral sectors—including critical minerals origins, supply chains, and markets, Earth MRI, alternative energy resources such as hydrogen and geothermal, methane emissions from orphaned and abandoned wells and carbon capture, utilization, and storage.
When done, the 190,000-square-foot building will house the USGS Geology, Geophysics and Geochemistry Science Center and the Central Energy Resources Science Center, both currently located at the Denver Federal Center. It will be occupied by about 250 USGS researchers and about 170 Mines faculty and students working side by side, expanding upon the two institutions’ long-standing partnership and history of collaborative research.
The USGS and Mines’ complementary strengths will advance new frontiers in strengthening critical minerals supply chains, developing a sustainable and just energy supply, innovating to modernize the nation’s mapping, tackling legacy pollution, and launching a hydrogen economy. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law makes long-term investments in the science, data, and expertise underpinning the nation’s sustainable development of natural resources, technology investments, STEM workforce, and innovation economy.
