TOPEKA (KSNT) – A group of investors is proposing a new development south of Topeka that would collect rare earths and produce specialized magnets.
Curtis Sneden, president and executive director of the Metropolitan Topeka Airport Authority (MTAA), told 27 News that a group of investors reached out to airport authorities in Topeka earlier this year with a proposal to bring a new production hub to an area just west of the Topeka Regional Airport. Staff at this proposed “Great Plains Defense Autonomy Hub” would specialize in the extraction of rare earths, the production of magnets and the manufacturing of electric motors and drones.
What is the purpose of this proposed facility?
The proposed hub would help the U.S. increase production of industrial magnets and rare earths, decreasing the nation’s reliance on other countries, like China, for obtaining these materials, according to materials presented to the MTAA Board of Directors. Rare earths are necessary for the production of tiny, but powerful, magnets essential for technology like drones and military equipment.
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Sneden said recent military actions in Iran and Ukraine have shown how important drone technology has become in warfare. The possibility of adding the proposed hub near Forbes Field would create an opportunity to support the U.S.’s defense supply chain and, according to Sneden, would help eliminate a “strategic vulnerability” for the country.
“Big picture, we know that the state of warfare is changing just as rapidly as everything else is,” Sneden said.
The proposed Great Plains Defense Autonomy Hub would consist of a rare earths processing center, an electric motor plant, magnet production and a waste recycling center, according to materials presented to the MTAA Board of Directors. Sneden said a possible location for the proposed hub would be in an area just west of the Topeka Regional Airport near where Southwest Topeka Boulevard and Southwest University Boulevard meet.
Extracting rare earths from coal dust
Sneden said a group of investors approached the MTAA earlier this year in the summer regarding development of the hub. He said the group possesses some intellectual properties regarding a process to extract rare earths from coal dust produced by coal power plants.
“This dust is left behind, and this patented procedure enables people to leech out the rare earths that are in there,” Sneden said.
Coal remains a major resource for energy production in Kansas, according to Evergy. Coal accounted for 38% of the total energy production for Evergy in 2025 alone.
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Evergy personnel operate multiple coal-powered energy production facilities in Kansas, such as the Lawrence Energy Center, that produce coal combustion residuals like coal fly ash and coal bottom ash. These byproducts of coal burning can potentially serve as sources for the extraction of rare earths, according to a 2022 report from the Department of Energy (DOE).
Courtney Lewis, a spokeswoman for Evergy, told 27 News that the company isn’t currently involved in any efforts to extract rare earths as of Oct. 9.
Why are rare earths so important?
Associate Professor of Geology at Kansas State University Brice LaCroix said critical minerals like rare earths are necessary for a nation’s advancement in multiple areas. He said that if the U.S. wants to remain competitive with other nations around the world, it must secure its own source of domestically obtained rare earths.
“We are facing a drastic increase in the demand for critical materials and critical minerals worldwide,” LaCroix said.
Rare earths, like neodymium and lanthanum, consist of 15 elements that are commonly referred to as “lanthanides,” according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Rare earths are important for sectors including defense and energy, with the glass industry coming is as the leading consumer of rare earth materials.
LaCroix said people can find rare earth elements in the bottom-center of the periodic table. He said coal naturally contains more rare earths than other types of rocks and researchers have been examining the possibility of extracting these minerals from coal burning byproducts.
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LaCroix said Kansas’ potential for helping the U.S. in its search for new sources of rare earths is still yet to be fully understood and requires further research. He said the prospect of obtaining rare earths from coal dust could prove to be a win-win situation.
“I think there is a potential because there are some rocks that are good settings for rare earth elements and critical minerals, but we need to do some more work to understand that,” LaCroix said.
Looking ahead
Sneden said the addition of the hub is still in early development and discussion phase with nothing set yet as far as a construction timeline. He said the project hinges on whether investors can secure federal funding and grants to assist with construction, after which plans will move forward.
“It’s an example of what the future can look like, if you ask me,” Sneden said. “This technology is integral to defense, but if this takes, I think it’ll be a sector that grows for quite a while.”
Sneden said there is available space for this type of project near the airport, with nearby roads and infrastructure ready to support the proposed hub. He anticipates the project, if approved, would have little impact on the environment in the surrounding area.
“We stand ready and are eager to collaborate with them on this opportunity,” Sneden said.
Sneden said officials with the MTAA Board of Directors, Shawnee County Commission, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) along with other state and federal agencies would be involved in the approval process for the proposed hub if plans do move forward.
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