Bring it to America

[MattMan119]

Researchers say Arkansas may have 19M tons of lithium critical for battery power

A new study by the U.S. Geological Survey found massive lithium reserves in southwestern Arkansas that could have between 5 million and 19 million tons of lithium.

www.foxbusiness.com

This could change things… let’s hope it is true,,.

 

[Rednecktek]

Ooohhh..... Summon the NIMBY's!! Call the EPA!!! Make sure we NEVER tap into that!

In all seriousness though, the tarrifs from China will have to be truly insane to make getting the lithium and processing it in the US cost competative to what we have now. It would be great to start making LFP and Sodiums here locally, but I don't honestly expect it in my lifetime.

 

[740GLE]

Same thing in Maine, but it’ll never happen here

Legislature takes up late mining rule change, paving way to extract 11M ton lithium deposit • Maine Morning Star

Proposed rule change would exempt some metals from the state’s metallic mining regulations if developers can prove that their operations won’t cause environmental harm.

mainemorningstar.com

 

[Zwy]

It takes a long time to open a mine in the US.

 

[Quattrohead]

It takes a long time to open a mine in the US.

Depends who is involved.
Pot legalization took off when the "right" people got involved, just as with alcohol back in the day.

 

[50ShadesOfDirt]

If the producers (oil, mining) pull something out of the ground, but then throw it into the open market (as big oil seems to do with that produced in America), how does it help anything, other than to become another pawn in big business scheming and pricing ...

Everything needs to be discovered, produced, manufactured, assembled, documentation-written, etc ... *in the USA" ... you know, like it used to be. But, the business world has moved on to global stuff ...

I'd be happy to swing things back to "final assembly in the country of final use", vs what we've got right now ...

 

[Skypower]

The Chinese are already funding another shell company that will in turn fund different environmental groups and lobbyists to put the Kabash on mining. Control rare earth metals and you control the world. It’s what they do.

 

[Brucey]

It takes a long time to open a mine in the US.

If it's a coal mine probably. For lithium prob get a free pass on a bunch of approvals. Just let the waste flow into the rivers....EVs will save us all.

 

[Zwy]

If it's a coal mine probably. For lithium prob get a free pass on a bunch of approvals. Just let the waste flow into the rivers....EVs will save us all.

As some environmentalists have now been fully integrated into the Deep State beaucracracy, I don't see things moving too fast even if there is a push towards renewables and green power.

It is also a "not in my back yard" from the other side.

Permits can get rubber stamped but then the lawfare enters and until the cases make it thru the courts, which can take years, then nothing happens.

 

[DIYrich]

Lithium batteries are so yesterday. I remember when cobalt was the big thing.

I'm putting my money on liquified air batteries. We don't need air from China.

 

[glandpuck]

Ooohhh..... Summon the NIMBY's!! Call the EPA!!! Make sure we NEVER tap into that!

In all seriousness though, the tarrifs from China will have to be truly insane to make getting the lithium and processing it in the US cost competative to what we have now. It would be great to start making LFP and Sodiums here locally, but I don't honestly expect it in my lifetime.

Tariffs on Chinese passenger EV's into the US make no sense. The Chinese EV's like BYD and NIO are pretty good vehicles and sell for a very low price. The USA imports lots of Chinese made goods at low prices and no one complains except in a few industries where Americans would like to manufacture the goods (clothing, semiconductors, cell phones, TV's, etc).

Fact of the matter IMO is that neither Ford, GM or Stellantis wants to pour billions into making passenger EV's. EV trucks and SUV's are different. So why not let the Chinese EV's into this country sold via US auto dealers and serviced at US auto dealers? This way people can migrate to EV at lower cost and the domestic manufacturers don't lose any profit because GM already stopped their tiny EV's and Ford has no passenger sedans.

 

[Brucey]

Tariffs on Chinese passenger EV's into the US make no sense. The Chinese EV's like BYD and NIO are pretty good vehicles and sell for a very low price. The USA imports lots of Chinese made goods at low prices and no one complains except in a few industries where Americans would like to manufacture the goods (clothing, semiconductors, cell phones, TV's, etc).

Fact of the matter IMO is that neither Ford, GM or Stellantis wants to pour billions into making passenger EV's. EV trucks and SUV's are different. So why not let the Chinese EV's into this country sold via US auto dealers and serviced at US auto dealers? This way people can migrate to EV at lower cost and the domestic manufacturers don't lose any profit because GM already stopped their tiny EV's and Ford has no passenger sedans.

I think BYD and NIO are sitting on the sidelines watching the US eat its own. Then when the time is right they'll build some factories in Mexico and no tariffs.

 

[SparkyJJO]

Ford, GM or Stellantis wants to pour billions into making passenger EV's.

I don't blame them. People aren't buying them as it is. Why pour billions into something that isn't selling?

 

[Brucey]

I don't blame them. People aren't buying them as it is. Why pour billions into something that isn't selling?

Early adopters have already blown their wad. Then with Elon taking away the liberal safe space of Twitter, those cashed up folk turned on him

 

[Offgrid Jungle]

This discovery will be drowned in red tape, union workers, and a mountain of permit requirements. We will NEVER see enough lithium to make one battery in our lifetimes.

 

[MattMan119]

We will be sitting pretty when all the competition runs out of Oil, natural gas and lithium… till then we keep on keeping on with our backyards and shed roofs… sadly we may never get to see any of it, but that will stop us from trying..

 

[Quattrohead]

I don't blame them. People aren't buying them as it is. Why pour billions into something that isn't selling?

Maybe build something your customers want instead of what your investors want.

 

[Brucey]

Maybe build something your customers want instead of what your investors want.

The companies that pander to their shareholders versus the consuming public will be the first to fold.

 

[v_green57]

The companies that pander to their shareholders versus the consuming public will be the first to fold.

Yeeeaaaahhhh...but when?

The "profits and investors first" business model has only intensified over the years. And due to the power and $$$ it has amassed has been able to buy the compliant government(s) it needs to continue to prosper.

 

[Brucey]

Yeeeaaaahhhh...but when?

The "profits and investors first" business model has only intensified over the years. And due to the power and $$$ it has amassed has been able to buy the compliant government(s) it needs to continue to prosper.

Yes with puppet Kamala and the Cheney's always wanting war the military industrial complex will be pleased indeed. Perpetual war means max profits.

 

[v_green57]

Doesn't matter which "tribe" we are talking about. Both (I would say "all") are equally at fault.

The particular methodologies or "puppets" may differ, but the end result is the same.

 

[UTR]

Same thing in Maine, but it’ll never happen here

Legislature takes up late mining rule change, paving way to extract 11M ton lithium deposit • Maine Morning Star

Proposed rule change would exempt some metals from the state’s metallic mining regulations if developers can prove that their operations won’t cause environmental harm.

mainemorningstar.com

And the Nevada-Oregon border: https://economictimes.indiatimes.co...der-region/articleshow/103685451.cms?from=mdr

And Utah: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thack...er Pass lithium deposit,a year could be mined.

And North Carolina: https://www.piedmontlithium.com/piedmont-increases-lithium-resource-by-47-to-27-9-million-tonnes/

I wouldn't say never. But somebody would have to decide higher prices, having the mining impacts nearby, and the opportunity costs, were offset by value of having a less susceptible to disruption domestic supply chain.

 

[MattMan119]

I don't blame them. People aren't buying them as it is. Why pour billions into something that isn't selling?

It very easy, nothing to do with investors or making money. It has to do with governments and politics dictating business direction. Business is just fine with making something we want and selling it to make money and having them compete to get us fair prices. But you start getting government involved, they start regulating who can and who cannot, what they can and cannot make. Now you start doing stupid crap because you have to. When we finally decide to tell the government to butt the hell out of our business, we will do just fine on our own doing things for ourselves.

 

[teal95]

The big 3 are each pouring billions into BEV development, customer be damned. They're neglecting development on ICE and hybrid vehicles to spend it all on BEVs. (I'm supposed to be working on a hybrid that's supposed to start production in less than 6 months but I've been reassigned indefinitely to helping get a BEV in production that's roughly 6 months behind schedule.)

 

[OffGridForGood]

From what I have read: in 2019 there were only two EV battery plants in the US, as of 2023, there were 34 built or under construction.
I know of 9 EV battery plants in Ontario and Quebec, I believe there are more in the planning stages.

Although China makes most of the EV batteries in the world today, and Australia is the highest current producer, of the lithium neather are the largest lithium deposit countries. That honor goes to Chile.
Prior to the USGS study, countries with the top proven lithium deposits are (in order from highest) Chile, Australia, Argentina, China, USA, Canada.
There are known deposits in Bolivia however development appears to be stalled.
If the USGS study is found to be correct, the USA will be easily double the reserves of Chile.

Interestingly, there are two lithium battery recycling facilities already operating in Canada, one in Ontario, the other (since 2019) in British Columbia.
I know of a Lithium mine near my area in Manitoba, and new mine near that is being developed near-by on the Ontario side.

I also read there is development in Alberta (similar to the LA deposits) that are related to the oil and gas industries. Guess we will see where it all ends up.