About this Post

This post is a discussion about the potential of the Imperial Valley being called "Lithium Valley", as a major lithium production hub. The summary includes key takeaways discussed on the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) News Show 60 Minutes in May 2023. The conversation covered the potential environmental and economic impacts of lithium extraction.

Groundbreaking of Phase I of Hell's Kitchen took place on January 26 2024.

The conversation continued by discussing the use of lithium in electric vehicles, and the involvement of various companies in the process.

Frederic Din, your local friendly guide to Living in the Imperial Valley, wants to hear from you!

Before we get to the discussion, I'd like to hear your thoughts on this matter.

Questions To Consider and Discuss as you read the post (please comment):

Where you are reading from; are you local?

Are you located in another state or country?

What interest do you have in the Imperial Valley and lithium?

Are you excited about the prospect of lithium extraction in the Imperial Valley?

Do you believe the Valley will benefit from both economic and community growth?

Will the jobs created from the lithium extraction plant pull from local labor pools, or will these jobs go to outsiders?

What concerns do you have about large-scale companies coming to the Imperial Valley and using state of California funds for their projects?

Do you believe these companies should make their own investments in the region to have more "skin-in-the-game"?

I appreciate your time answering these questions and look forward to connecting with you.

Let's continue with the summary and introduce the key speakers.

Key speakers

- Eric Spomer, CEO of Energy Source Minerals

- Mark Stewart, COO of Stellantis North Americo

- David Deke, President, Marbex LLC, Senior Advisor to Energy Source

- Rod Colwell, CEO of Controlled Thermal Resources

- Frank Ruiz, Local Program Director at the Audubon Society

Takeaway 2: The rise of lithium could change the social and economic situation of the Imperial Valley. The region has long struggled with high levels of joblessness and financial challenges.

Frank Ruiz from the Audubon Society is optimistic about the industry's potential impact on the local community: "Governor Newsom called it the Saudi Arabia of lithium. I think it can change the landscape of the region… It can provide better pay jobs… It can provide more job opportunities, especially for the younger folks. It can provide the revenues to offset the challenges that we have here at the Salton Sea."

Despite the environmental implications of mining, Ruiz believes that a balance can be struck between industrial development and environmental conservation. He emphasized the need to find a middle ground, stating, "We need to learn how to balance the tables. Belief in industry can be really good for these communities."

Takeaway 2: The rise of lithium could change the social and economic situation of the Imperial Valley. The region has long struggled with high levels of joblessness and financial challenges.

Frank Ruiz from the Audubon Society is optimistic about the industry's potential impact on the local community: "Governor Newsom called it the Saudi Arabia of lithium. I think it can change the landscape of the region… It can provide better pay jobs… It can provide more job opportunities, especially for the younger folks. It can provide the revenues to offset the challenges that we have here at the Salton Sea."

Despite the environmental implications of mining, Ruiz believes that a balance can be struck between industrial development and environmental conservation. He emphasized the need to find a middle ground, stating, "We need to learn how to balance the tables. Belief in industry can be really good for these communities."

The anticipated lithium operations could provide a much-needed economic boost to the region, turning the Imperial Valley into "Lithium Valley." The industry's potential longevity, with geologists predicting that the lithium underground should last for generations, is an added benefit.

Takeaway 3: Leading car manufacturers must have access to domestic lithium to meet the increasing demand for electric vehicles. It's crucial to maintain a reliable supply chain.

Mark Stewart, COO of Stellantis North America, expressed the significance of having a domestic source of lithium. He highlighted the company's commitment to buying lithium from Controlled Thermal Resources at the Salton Sea. "We secured a large supply from them over a ten year period because we are very positive on their technology.", said Stewart.

The push for domestic lithium is driven by a need for supply chain reliability and cost efficiency. Stewart explained, "Current lithium, what typically happens, it's mined in one spot, it's moved across the world for processing and comes back. Think of all that additional cost. Think of all that additional carbon that's being used to do that. And at the end, someone pays for it, and that's a consumer."

The development of a domestic lithium industry represents a competitive advantage for the US. As Eric Spomer of Energy Source put it, "It's a competitive advantage. It's an opportunity that we can be a leader globally. And why not lead?"

Key quotes and bibliography

- "It's a world class lithium resource. This is when you hear estimates of how big this resource could be. It's usually measured on annual tons produced, and we're confident that this is in excess of 300,000 tons a year. Right now, that's way more than half of the world supply of lithium." - Eric Spomer

- "Our more conservative projection would support seven and a half million electric vehicles a year, which is half of the total US car sales." - Eric Spomer

- "It really is, quote, unquote, the industrial revolution. The next phase. Right. This is the most interesting and exciting time to be a part of our industry." - Mark Stewart

- "Our process, in combination with this resource, will be the cleanest, most efficient lithium process in the world." - Eric Spomer

- "Governor Newsom called it the Saudi Arabia of lithium. I think it can change the landscape of the region." - Frank Ruiz

- "It's a competitive advantage. It's an opportunity that we can be a leader globally. And why not lead?" - Eric Spomer.