From the mid-to-late 1800s, a remote region of Nevada known as Silver Peak was one of the United States’ best sources for silver and gold, helping pay for the country’s westward expansion. Roughly 150 years later it’s now home to the United States’ only lithium mine, churning outof unprocessed lithium a year, which help power our growing demand for batteries used in nearly every phone, laptop, and electric vehicle. in the Atacama Desert, Calama, Chile, on September 12, 2022.
Despite limited lithium production and processing today, the U.S. could become a major player in the global market, improving its competitiveness in the clean energy transition., America has 14 million metric tons of lithium resources, ranking third worldwide after Bolivia with 23 million metric tons and Argentina with 22 million metric tons. And recent news suggests the U.S. has even greater potential for expanding our ability to meet domestic and global lithium demand.
’ to address and amend issues identified by the Department of Interior. The bill would “eliminate patenting of federal lands, impose a federal minerals royalty, establish a Hardrock Minerals Reclamation Fund for the cleanup of abandoned mines, and require a review of certain lands within three years to determine if they should be available for future mining.