- The U.S. Department of Energy awarded $100 million to Waterleaf P1 HoldCo to develop a lithium extraction and refining facility near the Great Salt Lake.
- The project aims to double U.S. lithium production reducing reliance on foreign sources.
- Utah is poised to lead in critical minerals with 80% of critical minerals present in the state.
SALT LAKE CITY — The U.S. Department of Energy on Thursday announced Waterleaf P1 HoldCo, a subsidiary of California-based Lilac Solutions, was awarded a $100 million federal grant to build and operate a commercial lithium extraction and refining facility on the Great Salt Lake’s northeastern shore.
The project was one of seven selected to receive funding from a $500 million grant pool administered by the department to “expand critical mineral and material processing, battery manufacturing, and recycling capacity in the United States,” according to a department release.
The first phase of the projects aims to double current U.S. lithium production and set the groundwork for future expansion, the department said…