Lithium in California - 12th January 2022

California has something very important, lithium. We need it to make special batteries. Many companies are in Salton Sea Lake, California. They're trying to find a safe way to get lithium from the earth.

The US usually gets lithium from other countries. But Jim Turner's company wants to dig 2,300 metres to get lithium.

Jim Turner: "There's not too many lithium sites that are known in North America, but there's a few. This is definitely the largest known here in North America. My guess is this will end up being the largest lithium production site globally once we fully develop it."

Countries are becoming eco-friendly. They want electric cars. Electric cars need lithium batteries. Very soon, the lithium business will double.

Jim Turner: "The lithium produced from here will go into electric vehicle batteries. And so our lithium product will end up for the most part with EVs made in the US might be some made in Europe."

Salton Sea Lake was popular with celebrities and boat racing fans. But the climate's changing. And the lake is getting dry. This puts dangerous dust in the air. This makes many people ill.

Researchers are testing the lake. They don't want the new lithium business to create more problems. Charles Diamond is a researcher.

Charles Diamond: "As far as hazards are concerned, I don't know of really any hazards that exist specific to this type of lithium exploration that don't already exist for geothermal power production."