… Lithium is a vital component in renewable energy technology, and we have long known that there is a rich deposit underground near the Salton Sea. … Sadly though, Lithium Valley has thus far generated more unfulfilled plans and lawsuits than EV batteries. … California’s latest economic blueprint calls out critical minerals as an economic sector the state will “bet” on, and it has already invested well over $100 million. Yet businesses that committed to the effort are reconsidering their plans as progress stagnates. … Each new lawsuit, policy and delay pushes the realization of Lithium Valley’s promise further over the horizon.
–Written by Adela de la Torre, president of San Diego State University.