Albamarle’s Silver Peak mine in Esmaralda County is the only active lithium mine in the United States, for now. (Dec. 8, 2022 NASA Earth Observatory image of Albemarle Corp. Silver Peak, Nevada facility by Lauren Dauphin, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey)
Policy, politics and progressive commentary
There are over 80 lithium projects proposed on Nevada’s public lands as the nation races to power the green energy transition. Now conservation groups are looking to state lawmakers to establish a rule-making process that would help reduce the establishment of mines in areas of greatest conflict.
Despite a growing interest in lithium mining, Nevada has not developed a state-level plan for where lithium production should – and should not – be permitted to avoid impacts on local communities and resources.
The United States produces less than 1% of global lithium production, all from a single facility, Albemarle Corp.’s Silver Peak mine in Esmeralda County, according to the United States Geological Survey. But that may soon change, making a statewide plan necessary, say conservation groups.