A significant lithium deposit has been identified beneath California’s Salton Sea, with potential implications for boosting domestic supplies of this critical mineral used in electric vehicle (EV) battery production. The region, located in Southern California, is already known for its robust geothermal electricity generation, which, according to a 2020 analysis by a California state commission, harbors one of the world’s highest concentrations of lithium in its geothermal brines, a byproduct of power generation.
In November 2023, the Department of Energy disclosed findings from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, indicating that the Salton Sea area could potentially yield over 3,400 kilotons (3.4 million tons) of lithium, potentially supporting the production of more than 375 million EV batteries—surpassing the total number of vehicles currently registered in the United States.
The evaporation of sections of the Salton Sea has adversely impacted the region’s tourism sector in recent years. However, integrating lithium extraction with geothermal energy production could revive the area’s economy. Despite the economic potential, environmental concerns surrounding this initiative have been raised.
Max Gorden from FOX Business Network reported that Controlled Thermal Resources (CTR), under the leadership of CEO Rod Colwell, is spearheading a project to extract and process lithium using geothermal power. The initiative has garnered financial backing from automakers General Motors (GM) and Stellantis, with other companies also planning similar endeavors in the region. Colwell compared the project to the early days of the oil industry, describing it as a “clean and green” process.
Nonetheless, environmental advocacy organizations, Earthworks and the Comite Civico del Valle, have filed a lawsuit aimed at delaying the project to enforce higher environmental protections, particularly concerning water usage and the management of hazardous byproducts from lithium extraction. Jared Maimark from Earthworks emphasized that the outcome of the lawsuit could establish environmental standards for future projects, ensuring adherence to robust safeguards and community respect. A hearing regarding the lawsuit is scheduled for Thursday.
This legal proceeding occurs against the backdrop of a recent analysis by the U.S. Geological Survey, finding that Arkansas’ Smackover Formation might possess between 5 and 19 million tons of lithium reserves. The U.S. currently relies heavily on imports for over 25% of its lithium needs, primarily from Argentina (51%) and Chile (43%).
Globally, Australia’s lithium production is the highest, followed by Chile and China. According to a January 2024 report, Chile holds the largest lithium reserves with 9.3 million tons, followed by Australia and Argentina. The U.S. has an estimated 1.1 million tons of lithium reserves. The report also outlines that lithium is predominantly used in battery production (87%), with additional applications in ceramics, glass, lubricating greases, air treatment, medical uses, and more.