A major lithium extraction project in Imperial County, currently blocked in state court, just got a boost from the Trump administration aimed at helping the project navigate federal hurdles. Controlled Thermal Resources’ Hell’s Kitchen project was designated under the federal FAST-41 program, an Obama-era initiative that helps coordinate and keep environmental reviews on schedule. The designation is the first show of support since Trump took office in January for projects in Lithium Valley, named for the vast stores of lithium estimated to be buried beneath the Salton Sea. … Controlled Thermal Resources broke ground on the Hell’s Kitchen project on the south end of the Salton Sea last year, racing to be the first to extract lithium on a commercial level in the region. But environmental groups sued to block the project, which remains on hold after the groups appealed the dismissal of their lawsuit. No companies have launched commercial extraction yet.

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• Calexico Chronicle (Calif.): Officials promote new permitting pathways for lithium projects