{"id":21577,"date":"2024-09-26T10:43:37","date_gmt":"2024-09-26T17:43:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/?p=21577"},"modified":"2024-10-01T18:38:49","modified_gmt":"2024-10-02T01:38:49","slug":"big-lithium-plans-california-raise-question-who-should-benefit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/big-lithium-plans-california-raise-question-who-should-benefit\/","title":{"rendered":"Big lithium plans for Imperial Valley, one of California\u2019s poorest regions, raise a bigger question: Who should benefit?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n    \n                                \n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--article-hero \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--article-hero\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n<div class=\"inner-wrapper\">\n          \n<div class=\"f--field f--image\">\n\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n              \n      <img\n                            data-src=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/09\/lithium-plans-pastor-768x432.jpg\"\n          data-srcset=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/09\/lithium-plans-pastor-1920x1080.jpg 1920w,https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/09\/lithium-plans-pastor-1280x720.jpg 1280w,https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/09\/lithium-plans-pastor-768x432.jpg 768w\"          data-sizes=\"(min-width:1200px) 75vw, (min-width:768px) 83vw, 100vw\"          class=\"lazyload\"\n        \n                  alt=\"A shoreline of the Salton Sea at sunset, with calm waters, rocky outcroppings, and algae-covered areas along the shore.\"\n        \n        \n                                      \/>\n\n    \n    \n  \n  \n\n<\/div>\n  \n      <div class=\"image-caption\">\n          \n<div class=\"f--field f--description\">\n\n    \n  The edge of the Salton Sea, a heavily polluted lake with large geothermal and lithium resources beneath it. (Photo: Manuel Pastor.)\n\n\n<\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  \n  <div class=\"text-wrapper\">\n          <nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumb\" class=\"breadcrumbs\">\n        <ul>\n                      <li><a href=\"\/news\/stories\/\">News<\/a><\/li>\n                      <li><a href=\"\/news\/stories\/\/?category=sustainability\">Sustainability<\/a><\/li>\n                  <\/ul>\n      <\/nav>\n    \n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--page-title\">\n\n    \n  <h1>Big lithium plans for Imperial Valley, one of California\u2019s poorest regions, raise a bigger question: Who should benefit?<\/h1>\n\n\n<\/div>\n    \n          <div class=\"subtitle\">\n            \n<div class=\"f--field f--description\">\n\n    \n  The promised \u2018white gold rush\u2019 would extract lithium alongside geothermal power production. The mineral is used in EV batteries, but even this less-polluting mining raises local health concerns.\n\n\n<\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    \n           <strong class=\"author-field\"><span >By<\/span><a href=\"mailto:communication@dornsife.usc.edu\">Manuel Pastor and Chris Benner<\/a><\/strong>\n    \n          <span class=\"post-date-field\">September 26, 2024<\/span>\n      <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--social-share \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--social-share\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  <div class=\"content-wrapper\">\n    <span class=\"a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list\" style=\"line-height: 32px;\">\n      <span class=\"title\">\n        Share\n      <\/span>\n                        <a class=\"a2a_button_copy_link\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/#copy_link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"Link\">\n            <span class=\"a2a_svg a2a_s__default a2a_s_copy_link\">\n    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cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <p>Imperial County consistently ranks <a href=\"https:\/\/hdpulse.nimhd.nih.gov\/data-portal\/social\/table?socialtopic=030&amp;socialtopic_options=social_6&amp;demo=00011&amp;demo_options=income_3&amp;race=00&amp;race_options=race_7&amp;sex=0&amp;sex_options=sexboth_1&amp;age=001&amp;age_options=ageall_1&amp;statefips=06&amp;statefips_options=area_states\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">among the most economically distressed<\/a> places in California. Its Salton Sea, the state\u2019s biggest and <a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/human-actions-created-the-salton-sea-californias-largest-lake-heres-how-to-save-it-from-collapse-protecting-wild-birds-and-human-health-196469\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">most toxic lake<\/a>, is an environmental disaster. And the region\u2019s politics have been <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kpbs.org\/news\/midday-edition\/2022\/12\/14\/the-political-paradoxes-of-imperial-county\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">dominated by a conservative white elite<\/a>, despite its supermajority Latino population.<\/p>\n<p>The county also happens to be sitting on enough lithium to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.ca.gov\/2023\/11\/28\/new-report-highlights-the-promise-of-lithium-valley\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">produce nearly 400 million batteries<\/a>, sufficient to completely revamp the American auto fleet to electric propulsion. Even better, that lithium could be extracted in a way consistent with broader goals to reduce pollution.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carbonchain.com\/blog\/understand-lithium-minings-environmental-impact\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">traditional ways to extract lithium<\/a> involve either hard rock mining, which generates lots of waste, or large evaporation ponds, which waste a lot of water. In Imperial Valley, companies are pioneering a third method. They are extracting the mineral from the underground briny water brought up during geothermal energy production and then injecting that briny water back into the ground in a closed loop. It promises to yield <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2022\/05\/04\/the-salton-sea-could-produce-the-worlds-greenest-lithium.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the cleanest, greenest lithium on the planet<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The hope of a clean energy future has excited investors and public officials so much that the area is being rechristened as \u201cLithium Valley.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/09\/the-10-wealthiest-and-10-poorest-counties-in-california.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-21578\" src=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/09\/the-10-wealthiest-and-10-poorest-counties-in-california.png\" alt=\"A bar chart titled &quot;The 10 wealthiest and 10 poorest counties in California&quot; showing median household income in 2022. The top six counties (Santa Clara, San Mateo, Marin, San Francisco, Alameda, and Contra Costa) are near San Francisco and Silicon Valley, with Santa Clara leading. The poorest counties include Trinity, Imperial, and Siskiyou.\" width=\"1220\" height=\"914\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/09\/the-10-wealthiest-and-10-poorest-counties-in-california.png 1220w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/09\/the-10-wealthiest-and-10-poorest-counties-in-california-500x375.png 500w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/09\/the-10-wealthiest-and-10-poorest-counties-in-california-1024x767.png 1024w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/09\/the-10-wealthiest-and-10-poorest-counties-in-california-768x575.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1220px) 100vw, 1220px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>In a region desperate for jobs and income, the prospect of a \u201cwhite gold rush\u201d is appealing. Public officials have been working to roll out the red carpet for big investors, including trying to create <a href=\"https:\/\/lithiumvalley.imperialcounty.org\/planning\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a clear plan<\/a> for infrastructure and a quicker permitting process. To get community groups\u2019 support, they are playing up the potential for jobs, including company <a href=\"https:\/\/holtvilletribune.com\/2024\/01\/24\/imperial-county-board-meeting-heats-up-over-hells-kitchen\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">commitments to hire local workers<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>But Imperial Valley residents who have been on the butt end of get-rich schemes around water and real estate in the past <a href=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/article\/california-farm-families-gained-control-colorado-river\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">are worried<\/a> that their political leaders may be giving away the store. As we explore in our new book, \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.chargingforwardbook.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Charging Forward: Lithium Valley, Electric Vehicles and a Just Future<\/a>,\u201d the U.S. has an opportunity to ensure that these residents directly benefit from the lithium extraction boom, which is an important part of the global shift to clean energy.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/09\/salton-sea-geothermal-resource-area-.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-21579\" src=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/09\/salton-sea-geothermal-resource-area-.png\" alt=\"A map titled &quot;Salton Sea geothermal resource area&quot; showing the location of 11 geothermal plants in Imperial County near the southeast end of the Salton Sea. The plants tap into a hot, briny water reservoir over a mile underground, which contains lithium that can be extracted. The map highlights the geothermal resource area near El Centro and the Salton Sea, with an inset showing the area within California.\" width=\"1220\" height=\"998\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/09\/salton-sea-geothermal-resource-area-.png 1220w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/09\/salton-sea-geothermal-resource-area--500x409.png 500w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/09\/salton-sea-geothermal-resource-area--1024x838.png 1024w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/09\/salton-sea-geothermal-resource-area--768x628.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1220px) 100vw, 1220px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Possibilities and perils in \u2018Lithium Valley\u2019<\/h2>\n<p>Imperial Valley is emblematic of the potential and the risks that have long faced impoverished communities in resource-rich regions.<\/p>\n<p>To understand the possibilities and perils in Imperial Valley, it\u2019s useful to remember that the world is not just moving away from fossil fuel extraction but toward more mineral extraction. Today\u2019s battery technology \u2013 necessary for electric vehicles and energy storage \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/making-evs-without-chinas-supply-chain-is-hard-but-not-impossible-3-supply-chain-experts-outline-a-strategy-189453\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">relies on minerals<\/a> including cobalt, magnesium, nickel and graphite. And mineral extraction is often accompanied by <a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/mining-powers-modern-life-but-can-leave-scarred-lands-and-polluted-waters-behind-119453\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">obscured environmental risks<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"width: 300px;\" src=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/620904\/original\/file-20240923-16-2owkrz.jpg\" alt=\"Two people stand near tall rigs used for pulling up briny water with lithium in it.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"2560\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A prototype for CTR\u2019s lithium-producing geothermal facility, in the Hell\u2019s Kitchen area of Imperial Valley. (Photo: <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/profile\/manuel-pastor\/\">Manuel Pastor<\/a>.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In Imperial Valley, environmental and community organizations are worried about lithium extraction\u2019s water use, waste and air pollution as production steps up and truck traffic increases. When your region\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/349727142_Crisis_at_the_Salton_Sea_Research_Gaps_and_Opportunities_The_EDGE_Institute_University_of_California-Riverside_Salton_Sea_Task_Force\/link\/603ee2f64585154e8c7249ad\/download?_tp=eyJjb250ZXh0Ijp7ImZpcnN0UGFnZSI6InB1YmxpY2F0aW9uIiwicGFnZSI6InB1YmxpY2F0aW9uIn19\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">childhood asthma rate<\/a> is already more than twice the national average, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2021\/11\/06\/californias-salton-sea-spewing-toxic-fumes-creating-ghost-towns-.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">dust from the drying lake is toxic<\/a>, kicking up a \u201clittle extra dust\u201d is a big deal.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/ccvhealth.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Comite Civico del Valle<\/a>, a long-established environmental justice organization in Imperial Valley, <a href=\"https:\/\/inewsource.org\/2024\/04\/22\/california-lawsuit-salton-sea-lithium-imperial-valley-ceqa\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">has sued<\/a> to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.desertsun.com\/story\/news\/environment\/2024\/01\/25\/lawsuit-could-block-massive-project-near-salton-sea\/72354176007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">slow down a streamlined permitting process<\/a> for Controlled Thermal Resources, <a href=\"https:\/\/calexicochronicle.com\/2023\/12\/15\/hells-kitchen-lithium-extraction-project-gets-green-light\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a company planning lithium extraction<\/a> there. The group\u2019s concern is that inadequate environmental reviews could result in harm to residents\u2019 health. Both the company and public officials are warning that the lawsuit could stop the lithium boom before it begins.<\/p>\n<p>Local communities are also <a href=\"https:\/\/holtvilletribune.com\/2024\/01\/25\/lithium-valley-has-its-skeptics-despite-looking-like-a-sure-thing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">concerned about how much benefit<\/a> they will see while the industry profits. They note that the electric vehicle boom driving lithium demand occurred precisely because of public policy. Tesla, for example, has benefited from multiple rounds of state and federal zero-emissions vehicle incentives, including the sale of emissions credits <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sec.gov\/Archives\/edgar\/data\/1318605\/000119312510149105\/d424b4.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">that accounted for 85% of Tesla\u2019s gross margin in 2009<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sec.gov\/ix?doc=\/Archives\/edgar\/data\/1318605\/000162828024002390\/tsla-20231231.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">rose to US$1.8 billion a year by 2023<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Behind these policies and financial incentives have been public will and taxpayer money.<\/p>\n<p>We believe that local residents, not just companies, deserve a return. Rather than promising to just pay for community \u201cbenefits,\u201d such as environmental mitigation, contributions to municipal coffers or jobs, the companies could pay \u201cdividends\u201d directly to local residents and communities.<\/p>\n<p>There are models of this dividend approach. For example, the <a href=\"https:\/\/apfc.org\/who-we-are\/a-pioneering-investment-model\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Alaska Permanent Fund<\/a> gives an annual amount to all residents of that state from revenues obtained from the oil beneath the ground.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/618610\/original\/file-20240910-20-mjayyf.jpeg\" alt=\"Young people stand at a table covered with brochures. They're talking with a videographer in the shade.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1440\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Young advocates with the Imperial Valley Equity &amp; Justice Coalition have been spreading their concerns through the community. (Photo: Chris Benner.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In Imperial Valley, the actual <a href=\"https:\/\/onepetro.org\/JPT\/article\/75\/08\/8\/528677\/Comments-Who-Holds-the-Rights-to-US-Geothermal\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ownership of the lithium is complex<\/a>, involving a mix of privately owned subsurface rights, public lease rights obtained by companies and public rights held by the regional water district to whom companies will pay royalties.<\/p>\n<p>Given the ownership complexities and the desire to benefit as development takes place, local authorities and community organizations persuaded the state in 2022 to pass a per-metric-ton <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/business\/sustainable-business\/california-approves-lithium-tax-despite-industrys-warnings-2022-07-01\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">lithium tax<\/a> to address local needs.<\/p>\n<p>That \u201cflat tax\u201d was bitterly resisted by some in the emerging industry on the grounds that it could make Imperial Valley\u2019s less-polluting extraction method <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/business\/sustainable-business\/california-approves-lithium-tax-despite-industrys-warnings-2022-07-01\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">too costly to compete with environmentally damaging imports<\/a>; after the vote, CTR\u2019s CEO called the legislators \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/siteselection.com\/issues\/2022\/sep\/california-dreamin.cfm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">clowns<\/a>.\u201d Meanwhile, CTR has also agreed to hire union workers in the construction phase. Everyone \u2013 companies, communities and government officials \u2013 is struggling to balance economic viability with accountability.<\/p>\n<h2>Lessons for a just transition<\/h2>\n<p>The hesitance of low-income Imperial Valley residents to immediately buy into the lithium vision is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/article\/california-farm-families-gained-control-colorado-river\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">deeply rooted in history<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Decades of racial exclusion, patronizing practices and broken promises have led to deep distrust of outsiders who assert that things will be better this time.<\/p>\n<p>Irrigation at the turn of the last century was supposed to bring an agriculture boom, but the early result was a broken canal that released enough water over nearly two years of disrepair to <a href=\"https:\/\/wildlife.ca.gov\/Regions\/6\/Salton-Sea-Program\/Background\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">create what is now the Salton Sea<\/a>. The Salton Sea was then <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2021\/11\/06\/californias-salton-sea-spewing-toxic-fumes-creating-ghost-towns-.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">supposed to fuel recreational tourism<\/a>, but the failure to replenish it with anything but agricultural runoff helped to <a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/human-actions-created-the-salton-sea-californias-largest-lake-heres-how-to-save-it-from-collapse-protecting-wild-birds-and-human-health-196469\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">kill fish, birds and recreation<\/a>. A more recent scheme to attract solar farms in recent decades delivered little employment and more <a href=\"https:\/\/www.desertsun.com\/story\/tech\/science\/energy\/2014\/10\/21\/desert-renewable-energy-conservation-plan\/17687721\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">worries about agricultural displacement<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/618607\/original\/file-20240910-22-b00q99.jpg\" alt=\"A faded and pealing billboard shows three women water skiing on a lake.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1440\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">You can still find old billboards promising a resort life on the Salton Sea, which today is one of the state\u2019s most polluted lakes. Wind kicks up toxic dust when the water is low. (Photo: Manuel Pastor.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Building the supply chain here, too<\/h2>\n<p>In recent years, some people have pinned their hopes on lithium. The main site so far in Imperial Valley has been <a href=\"https:\/\/calexicochronicle.com\/2021\/11\/15\/drilling-starts-on-ctrs-hells-kitchen-project\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CTR\u2019s Hell\u2019s Kitchen<\/a>. It\u2019s a fitting moniker on summer days when temperatures regularly exceed 110 degrees.<\/p>\n<p>Ensuring that the surrounding communities benefit from this new lithium boom will require thinking about how to attract not just companies extracting the lithium but also those that will use it. So far, Imperial County has had limited success in attracting related industries. In 2023, a company named <a href=\"https:\/\/statevolt.com\/manufacturing\/imperial-valley-gigafactory\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Statevolt said it would build a \u201cgigafactory\u201d<\/a> there to assemble batteries. However, the company\u2019s previous efforts \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/business\/2023\/jan\/20\/britishvolt-britains-battery-startup-uk-car-production\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Britishvolt in the United Kingdom<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bestmag.co.uk\/italvolt-gives-up-on-italy-gigafactory-sets-up-in-uae\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Italvot in Italy<\/a> \u2013 have stalled without any volts being produced. Imperial County will need serious suitors to make a go of it.<\/p>\n<p>A potentially promising future for modern transportation and energy storage may be brewing in Imperial Valley. But getting to a brighter future for everyone will require remembering a lesson from the past: that community investments tend to be hard-won. We believe that ensuring everyone benefits long term is essential for achieving a more inclusive and sustainable future.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;\" src=\"https:\/\/counter.theconversation.com\/content\/238397\/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic\" alt=\"The Conversation\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" \/><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https:\/\/theconversation.com\/republishing-guidelines --><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/manuel-pastor-378283\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Manuel Pastor<\/a>, Distinguished Professor of <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/soci\/\">Sociology<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/ase\/\">American Studies and Ethnicity<\/a>, <em><a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/institutions\/usc-dornsife-college-of-letters-arts-and-sciences-2669\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences<\/a><\/em> and <a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/chris-benner-1651119\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Chris Benner<\/a>, Professor, and Director, Institute for Social Transformation, <em><a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/institutions\/university-of-california-santa-cruz-1451\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">University of California, Santa Cruz<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p>This article is republished from <a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Conversation<\/a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/big-lithium-plans-for-imperial-valley-one-of-californias-poorest-regions-raise-a-bigger-question-who-should-benefit-238397\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">original article<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n  \n        \n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--article-related-stories \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--article-related-stories\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  <div class=\"inner-wrapper\">\n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--section-title\">\n\n    \n  <h2>\n          Related Articles\n      <\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n    \n                  <article>\n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--cta-title\">\n\n    \n  <h3>\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/shade-la-winning-design-giving-shade-for-metro-during-world-cup\/\" \n                        class=\"\" \n      >Student-designed shade structure debuts at Metro station ahead of World Cup 2026<\/a>\n      <\/h3>\n\n\n<\/div>\n        <\/article>\n              <article>\n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--cta-title\">\n\n    \n  <h3>\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/how-climate-finance-to-help-poor-countries-became-a-global-shell-game-donors-have-counted-fossil-fuel-projects-airports-and-even-ice-cream-shops\/\" \n                        class=\"\" \n      >How climate finance to help poor countries became a global shell game<\/a>\n      <\/h3>\n\n\n<\/div>\n        <\/article>\n              <article>\n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--cta-title\">\n\n    \n  <h3>\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/two-iconic-coral-species-are-now-functionally-extinct-off-florida-study-finds\/\" \n                        class=\"\" \n      >2 iconic coral species are now functionally extinct off Florida, study finds \u2013 we witnessed the reef\u2019s bleaching and\u00a0devastation<\/a>\n      <\/h3>\n\n\n<\/div>\n        <\/article>\n            <\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The promised \u2018white gold rush\u2019 would extract lithium alongside geothermal power production. The mineral is used in EV batteries, but even this less-polluting mining raises local health concerns.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":21583,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[66,87,83],"class_list":["post-21577","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sustainability","tag-climate-change","tag-expert-viewpoint","tag-the-conversation"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Big lithium plans for Imperial Valley, one of California\u2019s poorest regions, raise a bigger question: Who should benefit?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/big-lithium-plans-california-raise-question-who-should-benefit\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Big lithium plans for Imperial Valley, one of California\u2019s poorest regions, raise a bigger question: Who should benefit?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The promised \u2018white gold rush\u2019 would extract lithium alongside geothermal power production. 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