The National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association (NSSGA) represents crushed stone, sand, gravel (aggregate) and industrial sand producers, consisting of approximately 9,500 operations nationwide, and the manufacturing and service providers who serve the industry. Our producer members operate both surface and subsurface mining operations across all fifty states. Aggregate producers are directly impacted by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and are essential to meet our country’s energy goals.

On behalf of the National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association (NSSGA), I am pleased to submit the following comments in response to the Office of Clean Energy Demonstration’s (OCED) request for information (RFI) on the use of current and former mine lands to further the nation’s clean energy goals.  NSSGA is a trade association that represents crushed stone, sand, gravel (aggregate) and industrial sand producers, consisting of approximately 7,000 operations nationwide, and the manufacturing and service providers who serve the industry.

As you work to advance new technologies and solutions, we would urge for careful consideration to not limit critical research dollars that promote one material over others through select marketing activities. Projects should be decided on by their merits and decisions should be left to engineers and those with technical expertise in designing and executing projects. This will ensure only the best solutions, that truly solve our infrastructure challenges, are delivered at the best expense of the taxpayers