Discovery in California Could Power 375 Million Electric Vehicles

The enormous, rapidly receding Salton Sea, in the southeast of California, holds the key to the global future of clean energy. A new assessment from the U.S. Department of Energy claims this region contains an abundance of lithium, sufficient to power over 375 million electric vehicle (EV) batteries. This places the area as a potential powerhouse in the global lithium industry, surpassing the entire number of automobiles now on U.S. roadways.

For the creation of rechargeable batteries, which are used in everything from smartphones to electric cars, lithium is essential. This discovery appears to be a hopeful development given the global push for clean energy and the U.S. goal of increased energy independence. But as researchers at the University of Southern California (USC) warn, there could be serious negative effects on the environment and public health if America rushes to harvest lithium.

Manuel Pastor, the director of the USC Equity Research Institute, stated that “Lithium Valley” is currently positioned for a potential economic boom that is being supported not only by businesses but also by environmentalists who think the method of lithium extraction being proposed there is the “greenest” approach available. “But who will profit from the boom and who will continue to be marginalized?” is the real question.

Lithium from the Salton Sea is found in geothermal brine, which is hot, mineral-rich water below the surface. Comparing this form of lithium extraction to conventional hard rock mining, it is thought to be less harmful to the environment. Lithium may be collected from the brine by pumping it to the surface and then pumping the sans-lithium liquid back to the ground. This method is being heralded as a possible game-changer for environmentally friendly lithium production.

Australia presently produces more lithium than any other country in the world, mostly from hard rock mining. Major producers of lithium are also found in nations like China, Chile, and Argentina that harvest the metal from salt lakes. But now, the World Economic Forum reports, California’s Salton Sea is emerging as a major factor.

The concerns of depending on foreign suppliers for necessary elements like lithium, nickel, and cobalt—which power the batteries in electric vehicles (EVs) and electronic devices—have been brought to light by the epidemic and geopolitical tensions. According to World Bank projections, there will be a 500% increase in lithium consumption by 2050.

According to Greys Sošić, an expert in sustainability and global supply chains at the USC Marshall School of Business, “the U.S. needs to reduce the amount of lithium used in batteries and seek alternative local sources of lithium to enable sustainable future production from local resources.”

The Salton Sea’s proposed geothermal brine lithium recovery is one such option that might help fill the rising demand while lowering dependency on foreign lithium sources.

There is something peculiar about the Salton Sea, though. Because of an engineering blunder that occurred in 1905, it was unintentionally formed, and ever since, its dry lakebed has been exposing poisonous particles. Significant health concerns are associated with this dust, particularly for children in the nearby towns, who already face difficult economic and environmental conditions.

This is one of California’s poorest counties, with a typical household income that is about one-third that of Silicon Valley. While it boasts an 85% Latino population, but its political representation is far from up to par, according to Pastor.

The prevalence of childhood asthma in these neighborhoods is startlingly high. Air quality near the Salton Sea has been the subject of research by Shohreh Farzan, an associate professor of population and public health at the USC Keck School of Medicine, since 2017. According to her analysis, the childhood asthma rate in the towns surrounding the sea is 22%, which is higher than the national average of approximately 8%.

“The local air quality is probably a factor in the high rates we see, as many children in this area suffer from respiratory symptoms like wheezing and allergies,” Farzan said. “While lithium can help us become less dependent on fossil fuels, there is still much to learn about the environmental effects of the extraction process and whether this shift to cleaner energy could have an adverse effect on the health of the local communities.”

The Imperial Valley’s push for lithium mining reflects a larger global issue: balancing the pressing demand for clean energy and the necessity of safeguarding ecosystems and vulnerable communities. This was highlighted by Jill Johnston, an associate professor at USC’s division of environmental health.

“While promoting zero-emission technology and moving away from fossil fuels is vital for public health, it’s also necessary to prevent creating new environmental risks,” she stated. “The unduly burdened families around the proposed lithium extraction site deserve access to clean water and air and health protection.”

Imperial Valley faces a critical decision as the globe rushes toward a future powered primarily by renewable energy. Lithium mining has the potential to have a significant positive economic impact, bringing prosperity and jobs to an area that desperately needs them. However, it is impossible to overlook the health and environmental issues.

The trick will be figuring out how to use the lithium in the Salton Sea while still taking care of the local ecology and population. “Lithium Valley” has the potential to serve as an example for sustainable resource exploitation if done well. If not, it might end up serving as just another illustration of how economic growth can neglect the most marginalized populations.