In November 2023, the U.S. Department of Energy formally acknowledged the Salton Sea region in California as a "rich domestic lithium resource." This recognition followed years of attention to the region, and how it could potentially boost local lithium production in the U.S. for use in electric cars and other industrial applications.
But there are some lingering concerns, like the environmental risks possibly outweighing any economic benefits, and how industrializing the region could upend the lives of local and indigenous communities. A new video by the Wall Street Journal highlights how the area can make the U.S. self-reliant for its lithium needs, and the challenges it would need to overcome first.
