With increasing emphasis on renewable energy, the mining
industry is looking towards developing lithium reserves in the
United States. Currently, a single operation near Silver Peak, Nev.
is the only producing lithium mine in the United States. As
governments mandate reduced vehicle emissions, exploration in this
sphere is booming. But does America have the mineral reserves to
keep pace with this renewable boom?
The answer, as always, is complicated. The majority of lithium
on the market is mined in the "Lithium Triangle" in South
America, encompassing parts of Chile, Argentina and Bolivia.
Regulations and laws in those countries allow for less expensive
development than in the United States, but often with environmental
costs. As we look to encourage domestic production for national
security and ethical reasons, mining companies seeking to develop
lithium reserves on public lands are faced with both permitting
challenges and opposition from stakeholders. On one
