California officials have their sights set on a renewable future.
Already, the state has committed to having 60% renewable electricity by 2030 and 100% zero-carbon electricity by 2045. These steps are part of larger plans to combat the worsening impacts of climate change, which are driven by greenhouse gas emissions.
But these goals hinge on a mineral that’s a key power source for renewables:
Lithium.
In the form of a lithium-ion battery, this mineral powers everything from solar panels to electric cars. So far, lithium used in the United States is imported from other countries that commercially extract it. But with interest in the mineral growing rapidly, that will soon change.
In February, President Joe Biden spoke with Gov. Gavin Newsom and other California officials about the future of lithium. In the United States, these efforts to harvest lithium will largely be based…
California’s energy future hinges on lithium, from solar panels to batteries. Here’s what we know.
