One of the big things EV critics cite when talking about their continued growth is the significant number of raw materials that have to be extracted and refined to produce batteries. The U.S. federal government is taking steps to address those concerns with its recent approval of a lithium mine on public lands in Nevada.
This is the Biden administration’s first permit for a lithium mine, and it will be a key step in the government’s efforts to divorce U.S. auto manufacturing from Chinese imports. The move is expected to quadruple the country’s lithium output, and the government has offered Australian-based Ioneer a $700 million loan to build the facility.
The mine will produce lithium and boron with enough raw materials to support 370,000 EVs per year. Despite the upside to the economy and auto industry, the project hasn’t been without its detractors. Environmentalists have worried that the mine could impact sensitive ecosystems nearby, but government officials say they have a plan to protect the environment.
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management said the project comes with “significant protections for the local ecosystems,” which will include water conservation efforts, responsible mining techniques, and ongoing impact assessments.
Construction on the min is set to start in 2025, and the first materials are expected to be extracted by 2028. Automakers are lining up to utilize the mine, including Ford, Toyota, and others, and the project is expected to bring hundreds of jobs to the region.
[Images: Ioneer]
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