Produced by: Tarun Mishra
The Salton Sea, California's largest lake, has been found to contain a vast reserve of lithium, valued at nearly $540 billion. This "white gold," named for its appearance, is critical for the production of batteries, particularly for electric vehicles (EVs).
A study, backed by the U.S. Department of Energy, aimed to determine how much lithium lies beneath the lake. Lithium is a key component for creating batteries, which are essential in renewable energy technologies like EVs.
The lake's lithium reserves are so abundant that they could supply enough material for 382 million electric vehicle batteries, more than the total number of cars currently on U.S. roads. This discovery could significantly boost U.S. leadership in battery production.
According to Michael McKibben, a University of California geochemistry professor, this is one of the largest lithium brine deposits in the world. If fully tapped, it could make the U.S. self-sufficient in lithium and reduce reliance on imports, particularly from China.
Governor Gavin Newsom has referred to the Salton Sea as the "Saudi Arabia of lithium" due to its potential as a global leader in lithium production. The discovery places the Salton Sea among the largest known lithium sources worldwide.
Extracting lithium from the lake presents significant technical challenges. Geothermal production wells would need to be drilled thousands of feet into the earth to access lithium-rich brine. Once extracted, the brine would be processed, and the remaining liquid pumped back underground.
Lithium extraction could have serious implications for the 180,000 people living near the Salton Sea. Additionally, there are concerns about the impact on the region’s water supply, which is linked to the Colorado River.
While the lithium reserves hold enormous potential, the complexity and risks associated with extraction make it unclear how soon the resource can be fully tapped. Experts remain cautious, acknowledging the potential dangers to the local environment and population.