This development is a goldmine opportunity to reduce America’s economic and energy dependence on foreign states and to create thousands of clean, good-paying middle-class jobs.
As much as I like the idea of the US not being dependent on China for Lithium, given the environmental and worker regulations in the US (which are both a good thing) I suspect we’ll continue to see any attempts at mining or manufacturing undercut by cheap labor in developing economies with horrendous environmental impact. Unless and until imports get taxed based on those issues, US based mining isn’t going to be competitive.
Yeah the Salton Sea is already a dead zone from previous catastrophes so I can’t imagine there is any more damage that could be done. If we had to tear up any part of the country for mining, I don’t think there exists a better option than there. Last I read about ten years ago it’s still so toxic that you can’t really go there and don’t try and touch the water.
I worked with a group doing surveys of the Salton Sea a lot of years ago (I work in IT). One of the researchers dropped a ruggedized laptop in the water, it didn’t survive, despite being rated to survive a short dunk. That said, I believe the Salton Sea is considered a critical for migratory birds passing through the area. So, it’s further destruction may run into environmental issues.
the ones setting this kind of extraction up are the likes of the US on the first place. its much cheaper to exploit a third world country than to do it domestically with all the worker protections and pay.
As much as I like the idea of the US not being dependent on China for Lithium, given the environmental and worker regulations in the US (which are both a good thing) I suspect we’ll continue to see any attempts at mining or manufacturing undercut by cheap labor in developing economies with horrendous environmental impact. Unless and until imports get taxed based on those issues, US based mining isn’t going to be competitive.
Yeah the Salton Sea is already a dead zone from previous catastrophes so I can’t imagine there is any more damage that could be done. If we had to tear up any part of the country for mining, I don’t think there exists a better option than there. Last I read about ten years ago it’s still so toxic that you can’t really go there and don’t try and touch the water.
I worked with a group doing surveys of the Salton Sea a lot of years ago (I work in IT). One of the researchers dropped a ruggedized laptop in the water, it didn’t survive, despite being rated to survive a short dunk. That said, I believe the Salton Sea is considered a critical for migratory birds passing through the area. So, it’s further destruction may run into environmental issues.
Salton Sea is already an ecological disaster - just green light that one with no environmental restrictions
the ones setting this kind of extraction up are the likes of the US on the first place. its much cheaper to exploit a third world country than to do it domestically with all the worker protections and pay.