How The Troubled Salton Sea Could Become The World’s Largest Lithium Supplier
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 3 май 2022
- In and around the shrinking, toxic Salton Sea, there’s enough lithium to meet the United States’ entire projected demand and fuel the electric vehicle revolution. Three companies are working to demonstrate new lithium extraction technologies in the area, and if their tech works at scale, it could produce the greenest lithium that the world has ever seen.
» Subscribe to CNBC: cnb.cx/SubscribeCNBC
» Subscribe to CNBC TV: cnb.cx/SubscribeCNBCtelevision
» Subscribe to CNBC Classic: cnb.cx/SubscribeCNBCclassic
About CNBC: From 'Wall Street' to 'Main Street' to award winning original documentaries and Reality TV series, CNBC has you covered. Experience special sneak peeks of your favorite shows, exclusive video and more.
Connect with CNBC News Online
Get the latest news: www.cnbc.com/
Follow CNBC on LinkedIn: cnb.cx/LinkedInCNBC
Follow CNBC News on Facebook: cnb.cx/LikeCNBC
Follow CNBC News on Twitter: cnb.cx/FollowCNBC
Follow CNBC News on Instagram: cnb.cx/InstagramCNBC
Subscribe to CNBC PRO: cnb.cx/2NLi9AN
#CNBC
How The Troubled Salton Sea Could Become The World’s Largest Lithium Supplier
The Salton Sea has been on the minds of the local residence for a very long time. The breach of the levee in 1906 was a disaster of epic proportions which spawned a new recreational community around a once dry lakebed. Gradually it became one of California's biggest ecological disasters. Many plans have come and gone to solve this region's issues. With this new development, I'm hoping Southern California can solve this crisis while bring new economic prosperity to the area.
Unfortunately it's going to be ignored as usual because it won't benefit politicians in Sacramento.
@@MojaveDan Sure it does, it would be a big feather in any cap, to turn that mess into a big boon, and save the environment and at least part of the lake, all at the same time, with modest effort and budget costs.
I fear all the profit will go to already wealthy people, and none back to the local economy.
WHAT crisis?
@@magesalmanac6424 The California High Speed Rail fiasco comes to mind!
My father and his second wife used to visit the Salton Sea, and take me along. It was super-hot, but it was kinda fun. It made me so sad to know how it had changed, and the town we had visited gone.
Isn’t gone is still there
Maybe if they develop this industry, the town will be revived
second wife is your step mom kid.
Grew up fishing and camping at the Salton Sea. Hope it gets fixed, and the community and can flourish once again.
No it’s not trying to fix it it’s trying to make you think that it’s broken and this is the end
🤣Ain't gonna happen!.... 😂😅
The Lithium recovery companies should cooperatively build and fund a mega trade school. These plants will need electricians, pipefitters, welders, millwrights, crane operators, heavy equipment operators, laboratory techs, laborers, etc. Train the local populace to do these jobs.
Each in plant job will generate four or more off plant jobs in new support businesses.
Great idea but most of us know by now our government doesn't invest in the people for a brighter future.
It all sounds good until California environmental studies start which should only take them about 40 years.
maybe " the locals " have they're OWN dreams ?
Plenty of immigrants to do this work because Americans think it’s beneath them
The unions, who already have the training programs funded by the gov, will give the jobs to their members, not the locals.
As we consider developing geothermal plants around Yellowstone, few Americans realize geothermal energy extraction is already a robust energy asset in the Salton Sea area. Fewer, still, understand the importance of having native US deposits of lithium.
Conceivably, the abundant energy of Salton and its rich lithium deposits could foster an entirely new industrial area for the US-- from batteries to automobiles, powered by a reliable energy source.
Thanks for CNBC for a very clear, comprehensive report on the rapidly-developing situation with lithium and geothermal energy in the lower California region. What we especially like is the report's longer-form video journalism, covering the entire complex of issues, not simply technical and economic feasibility of lithium/geothermal development.
Yes, we subscribed.
The desert is a good spot for industry too, if pollution occurs at least its in a somewhat desolate landscape not pristine habitat.
Trivia: my father took seaplane flying lessons there in the 80s. Salton Sea is below sea level. He had to fly up too sea level for pattern altitude.
A really interesting point. Thanks.
Since it's below sea level they should build a canal from the Pacific and make it a real inland sea. Maybe with an electricity producing dam by not letting it ever fill up completely. And all around it solar powered desalinization plants to make fresh water to keep all the farms around going. And then the brine could be used for extracting lithium as well. And the sea salt. Seems like there is potential for a "full circle" industry there. All clean.
Dang, must be near Death Valley which is one of the lowest points. Didn't know about this place until this video.
@@Metal0sopher Please run for governor next term cause that is a smart ass idea. Could even put a port there so companies can save fuel instead of having to go to LA port or long beach port
I remember the only time myself and my brother came from Chicago to see the Salton Sea. We were impressed, so took a dive into it I ended up with barnacle cuts all over my feet, bleeding all over the place until we got back to Chicago two weeks later, We were all covered with salt from head to toe, with no place to wash it off. It was 108 F. that day. We went to Indio, where everyone figured out that we were tourists We had some wonderful date shakes and marveled at the date palms. We had never seen them before. I hope that the Salton Sea remains the wonder it is.
If you were bleeding (all over the place) from the time you got cut until you got back to Chicago 2 weeks later, and the average human holds approximately 6 quarts of blood, you must have lost anywhere from ALL of your blood to upwards of 300 liters. At 1/2 liter lost per hour for 14 (+/-) days. You must have been carrying around a battery operated Imed PC-1 peristaltic pump or an RFT (reasonable facsimile thereof) delivering fresh blood at 8 (or so) ml per minute. And you lived to tell the tale. Astounding!!
@@dr.jamesolack8504he just tried to give his story an interesting point ....not exactly like a horror movie 🤣
Lithium has been thrown away at these geothermal power plants for decades. Also the Salton Sea issues, which will affect most of Southern California if not resolved, have been ignored for decades. Suddenly mainstream media brings attention to the Salton Sea. The current annual budget for the high speed train could fix the Salton Sea and make it extremely productive.
Also have a major negative effect on local agriculture by water contaminants , imagine lithium next to food , that will be crazy
lol that imaginary train with all its BILLIONS going to environmental reviews xD
This is actually pretty good idea.
Somewhat of a consolation prize for the Salton Sea, to suddenly have a means of redemption. Got to wonder just how badly the corporate sector will screw things up and create an even worse situation - if that could be possible. My family used to visit the Salton Sea every summer and it was really sad to see that place go to hell.
Well how about you get together with some investors and do a better job?
Corporate sector? Government should get its share of the blame also.
@@clarkelliott5389 Agreed.
bERKsHiRe HaThAWay CaReS ABoUt tHE plANeT
Sorry, forgot to say THANKS for producing an excellent documentary…and brief, which is hard to do!
This was amazing. To whoever produced this video, THANK YOU.
It’s CNBC
An absolute disaster for the entire Imperial County to bring it to ruins
Really interesting 'mini' documentary.
It's instructive to see how many parties have, or claim to have, a 'stake' in these big projects. No matter how good the whole idea, there always seems to be a queue of people lining up to claim that unless additional steps x, y, and z are taken, the whole thing will be an abject failure, environmental disaster, stain on humanity etc.
I don't wish to appear cynical, but this is something resembling a pattern I've noticed, whenever the prospect or possibility of a big, significant infrastructure/resource project comes up. Even when that project is objectively beneficial to society, the attention of so-called 'stakeholders' can sometimes suffocate a project before its even started. It's a big world. The developers of such a project can always look elsewhere if it all looks like too much trouble.
But.... thanks for the video. Interesting and informative.
This complex of eleven geothermal power stations, located in the Salton Sea Geothermal Field, started to be developed in 1980s. All factors considered, drilling and extracting hot brine from beneath the surface and using the heat to generate electricity and completing the cycle by injecting the brine back into the ground is an environmentally sound system. Lithium extraction, if it can be done at a profit, is an additional benefit to the owners.
Agriculture is a separate issue. Before farmers started to divert water from Colorado river for agriculture very few people were living in the Salton Sea area. Agriculture provided cheap food for many but the local workers only have seasonal farm work. Doubt farm workers will ever sustain a good standard of living since there has been only marginal improvements in over 100 years in any of California’s agricultural areas.
When I heard berkshire hathaway is the construction job 🙄
Yes there is a book about what happens to countries that have oil resources. One would think they would be rich, but usually its the opposite. Venezuela, Iraq, Iran, Russia, and many others, the countries turn into 3rd world disasters. The oil allows one dictator to gain control of the wealth and extract it for himself. The wealth he accumulates, is used to control an army, to fend the people off, to control what they see in the media, to prevent other countries from coming in a helping the people. The end result is a hyper wealthy dictator, and a nation of peasants. Maybe it will be that way with the Lithium of the Salton Sea. I see all the politicians trying to insert themselves into mining, and the environmentalists will be there to put the brakes on, and the greedy capitalists like Berkshire Hathaway, will do whatever it takes to get the Lithium. The people will get nothing, zero, they won't even get any salt.
When there's enough money, all stakeholders can wash their tears with dollar bills earned from lithium. And lithium prices are skyrocketing.
@@lewisk3725 Artificial scarcity does that. You know what else is expensive? Ant's "caviar", you should take this chance to buy it cheap before it goes up too!
I’m so excited about something positive happening to the Salton sea, it’s vital for Imperial County, Coachella Valley and as far as Los Angels!
It would be more positive if the Salton was connected to the Gulf of Mexico .
Two one-way canals with tidal-gates could fill the basin , then maintain a steady water circulation through the inland sea .
The toxic dust would be mitigated , the fisheries would recover , and the marine resorts business would reconstitute , and once again thrive .
Passive tidal-gates on open canals would be relatively inexpensive , and low maintenance as well .
The net gain here would be enormous !
@@Prof.Megamind.thinks.about.it. that would be awesome! I hope that happens 👍
@@pamelaburgercarroll7936
Read article How to save the Salton Sea in USA Today , on 6/11/21 .
*.Looks like I'll have to complain to RUclips owner Google again about the minimum-wage 3rd-grade vandals erasing actual mental effort ! 🤮
Don't get too excited.
@@ThePaulv12 you must think positive 😊
Here is one situation where prior negative human impact might be mitigated with a positive impact. This is a circumstance where shouldn't be a fight against development since not doing anything would be worse.
We recently visited the Salton Sea for the first time knowing nothing about it other than it is a big lake on the map. We have learned a lot since and the possibility of this site becoming a major lithium producer would be ironic and wonderful.
I did the same except I went immediately I just saw it on the map
You’re joking right, do more research on the devastation on this and also what’s hidden under it! Think government, ahhh haaaa 😮
What's the point in that? the toxic air is just gonna spread across the state killing many in the process, and then we won't be around to use the lithium
@@kuuipoburton3077 please provide sources for your statements. We would reality like to know all aspects.
The history of the salton sea is just amazing and surprising, this just adds another twist
Im from there and it’s been an issue for a long time, since no one really knows about that area, and some bad instances with corrupt politicians nothing has gotten done, I hope this is part of the change that we need, a lot of hard working people that unfortunately don’t have the right circumstances to thrive, I’m already looking into how I can be part of this so like they said we benefit too rather than just exploit us
A portion of the revenue must go into saving the Salton Sea. Sunny Bono was going to save the Sea.
Good for you!
How about also "mining" the Salton Sea for fertilizer. Tons of it has poured in over the decades that could be mined and then reused to help reduce our need to mine it from other sources. Maybe create catchments that help remove it and concentrate the field runoff before it is flushed into the Salton Sea.
Sure man, go ahead and pour salt onto your croplands, see how it goes.
@@chillwill5080, Not what I said.
@@swansontv You want to "mine the Salton Sea for fertilizer", that fertilizer is mixed with the salt.
@@chillwill5080 Do you understand what mining for a resource means? Probably find some use for the separated salt as well. And depending on the process used to extract the resources from the Salton Sea the freshwater could be used for irrigation. Done right it could yield a lot of added benefits beyond removing fertilizer elements from the Salton Sea and field runoff.
@@swansontv Lot's of cute dreams with no substance is what got us to this point, maybe it's time to try something that actually makes sense, which your idea does not.
Good documentary. CNBC is covering topics that most others miss
I've visited the surrounding towns when I saw Salvation mountain. It's really a ghost town it was San Francisco cold in November at 12pm and I only stayed 30 minutes before heading back to Palm Springs.
Salton Sea is an interesting drive. If you look in the hillsides, you will notice the ancient water level. Slab City is another artistic living space but it must be brutal in Summer. Not exactly an ecological disaster area. This area was a large salt flat before modern day development and farming brought people into the area.
PS - Nothing like stopping in Indio for a date shake and date candy.
@@williamlloyd3769 I actually wouldn't mind going back to visit again to spend more time in the area. For anyone who's reading the comments. If you visit Salvation mountain/slab city from Palm Springs. Make sure your gasoline car has 200 miles of range at minimum if you're not familiar with the area. Drive early with plenty of sunlight. You'll have a 🚔🚓 check point 30 miles from Slab City driving North on highway 111.
Nice to hear something positive for a change. This could be a win-win for all involved--- provided businesses can keep their greed in check and prove to be genuinely concerned about environmental issues.
This is America… I’m not that optimistic about capitalism
Communism is way better right? China being so clean and all …
That's a big ask LOL
When will the California politicians sell or lease the whole lake to the Chinese? That's what they do.
It's gonna hard to keep prices down, nickel and graphite has already increased after the need for those materials increased. $💲$
What an amazing story! That was very interesting indeed - Thank you for covering. I’ve been all around that sea, & that area needs all the help it can get. 👍🏻
You are kidding right?
@@bargdaffy1535 kidding about?
@@FirstLast-ii5cp The Salton Sea is already an ecological nightmare and now they want to mine Lithium there and make it a true sacrifice zone. Don't be so naive.
Couldn’t agree more
Good Doc. And possibly a “Sea of Hope”? Yes, sure but look at all the missed opportunities towards a more sustainable world have been ignored. The net sum results of World Wide commitments to change haven’t yet yielded enough progress….so far, not so good. This “sea of hope” is another reminder that we are sitting on a goldmine of this & much other creative potential-which won’t do anybody any good, until somebody picks up a shovel.
the brine from desalination plants could be used to produce energy using solar heat , instead of giant ponds , the steam could be collected for more fresh water , California really needs to step up to the plate , we need water more then we need batteries but we can make three things fresh water, energy ,and batteries , if we are smart .
I’ve said the same thing Victor. As a society, we have the tools. We simply need to invest at a MASSIVE scale and get economies of scale in our favor. We do that, we will have fresh water, electricity, lithium/batteries, JOBS, and much more that are all in USA. Add to that the reduction in round trip shipping of goods half way around the world and back, and you’ll have a much more efficient and sustainable supply chain for the new 2030 economies.
The brine is needed for reinjection into the ground. If water was diverted, the underground water reservoir would deplete and the geothermal plants would stop operating.
I'm just an outsider from Malaysia commenting, but I think that California should maybe limit lawns and swimming pools 😅 kinda wasteful don't you think
It's of course out of the question to reduce the usage....
Build solar desalination plants. Draw a cubic kilometer of water from the sea, extract lithium from that as well. The USA should be the leader in battery technology, at the moment it looks like China is overtaking the USA. The USA government should be funding massive battery research. I imagine the nation that patents a battery that is cheap to make lasts ~5000 cycles, has 1000Wh/kg will become the richest nation. That is looking like it could be China.
USA needs a brute force battery development program. E.G Fund 1000 institutions and private companies. Each have to submit a plan to make a battery within a year . At the end of each year test/evaluate and supply funding for another year to the top 500 results. Allow another 500 new start ups. Have a prize for results, set at levels of Wh/kg, manufacturing cost, cycle life etc. Every year a company/institution is successful double the funding, creating a desire to succeed.
Tesla has already said they would buy all the lithium that is responsibly produced. They also make some of their own batteries here in the US. They might even help fund some of it to help expedite the progress. Give them a call.
The problem isn't selling, it's making. You think Warren Buffett needs Musk's help?
@@drwisdom1 probably. Buffet is not going to spend the money necessary to expedite the results. That is what is needed. Additionally, if he would at least talk to Elon, he could get some of Tesla's engineers to help design the process better.
Fk Elon... I'm sure they'll remember he bailed on California. Hello Rivian, GM, and Ford!
I bet Musk would like to have a monoply on the lithium supply. He's that kind of guy..
I understand the mayors concern, but the lithium is there, its not like a project that can be built just any place. And the need for the mineral is only going to grow. For a often forgotten area of California this has real potential.
Really really interesting report. Really well done.
The most optimistic project I've seen ..impacting so many fronts of negativity going on now. It is about time we unite in gaining a brighter future with our resources .. a breath of fresh air and attention to cleaner water for all.
Used to fish there quite a lot with Dad ,Gramps back in 1963-67. I do believe we ate them. Some of the hottest, windiest, smelliest, saltiest fishing i've done. Quite the experience. I guess Sonny Bono was right!
This is pretty uplifting after hearing about Honda and GM doing a collaborative project to make EVs. I have little hope for the future of EVs as we rely on foreign countries to provide precious minerals. The cobalt and lithium mining industries in Africa are using children in dangerous environments again. China funds and profits off of most of the mining projects and they have many of their own on their own soil. EVs are just one course and we shouldn't abandon hydrogen or ammonia powered vehicles.
You twitchy clown.
Do you realize the environmental disaster lithium is going to cause in the long run. It a thousand times worse then using fossil fuels.
@@ronbowman4145 No you're just a gullible liar.
@@ronbowman4145 I 100% agree with you but I believe we should have a mix of technologies and not put all our eggs in one basket. Each vehicle drive train has its pros and cons. I believe ICE vehicles are best in all situations but long term it's not sustainable nor good for the environment. We shouldn't cut it out of society like they want to but a reduction is inevitable. EVs are good for people who work at home and don't really travel often or far. They would also be a good replacement for taxi, police, postal, and delivery service vehicles.
@@bugenhagen5813 EVs are generally better because it is more sustainable and reduces reliance on very bad countries. The technology is getting better all the time. Not sure if they are suitable for police because the police might not have the time to charge them as they perform their duties. There have been police cars that ran out of charge as they pursued criminals which is a problem. If they could produce electricity cheaply then use EVs then they could stop relying on the Middle East and Russia.
Currently watching this a mile from the Salton sea
One overlooked solution is pump storage between the Salton Sea and Pacific Ocean in California. Pump water out of the Salton Sea at night using geothermal energy and produce hydroelectric power during the day by adding Pacific ocean water to the Salton Sea. The surface area of the Salton sea is 343 square miles. There is a 225 feet of elevation difference between the Salton Sea and Pacific Ocean. They have already bored a hole in the mountain between the imperial valley and San Diego to transport fresh water. They could drill another one for this battery storage idea. Another advantage is you effectively reduce the high salinity of the Salton Sea while improving air quality of the imperial valley by covering the entire dry lake bed.
The same kind of recovery can be done with brine from Desalination plants. SD should pump its wase from its desalination plants into the Salton Sea to prevent the dry up. Then there could be recovery of minerals from these waters of the Salton Sea as well. Pumping the brine back into the Pacific Ocean is not good for the local sea life. I am gessing on all of this.
Yes, I just watched a couple videos on desalination plants/processes yesterday, and they said that when the brine is put back in the sea, that just increases the salinity of the ocean all the more and is back for coral reefs, fish, etc.
I was just thinking the same thing, that recovery could also come from desalinization plants but your idea of pumping into the Salton Sea is a great idea! Since part of the problem with desalination is left over brine and where to put it, this could really be an answer for that.
@@playhooky the brine kills everything
I’m no scientist but: isn’t seawater where we get sea salt?
Isn’t salt also what they spread on road to rust out midwestern vehicles each year?
And although salt runoff is causing an increased salinity level in the Great Lakes aren’t they still mining salt from caverns deep under the Great Lakes for that purpose?
And isn’t Bonneville in need of salt for restoration?
Am I the only one connecting the dots here?
Or is it cost too prohibitive to keep the ocean healthy by not dumping concentrated brine it?
Back in the 50's and 60's we used to spend weekends water skiing, fishing, and camping at the Salton Sea. Now it has become a toxic waste site since it has continued evaporate and absorb ag runoff. The salt flats need to be stabilized so the toxic dust doesn't become airborne and spread over hundreds of square miles.
Wonderful energy and good storage materials independent
Nice to know they will mine the mineral. Several years ago, Cali basically shut down any extraction due to high regulatory costs.
I would like to know a LOT more about this! It's been so concerning hearing about the consequences of lithium mining in the developing world. And it would be a huge shot to the US and Mexico. What's not to like.
PLEASE anyone who is involved with this: treat California's environment with respect this time.
Good points. Geologists say there's more lithium in the oceans and dry lake beds to produce enough EV batteries to provide every person in the world with 100 EV's each. And, lithium is 100% recyclable when a battery has degraded and no longer usable, so all used lithium can continually be used. A couple of companies are using lithium and silicon in the same battery to dramatically increase the life of the battery. The quicker we get away from fossil fuels and mass degradation of our forests and environment, the better.
I'm cautiously optimistic- the final person interviewed seemed to have there eye directed toward equity and the need for environmental care. Folks there are all too aware of how not-like the rest of California the Salton Sea is. If this place is to provide batteries that power our lives, its vital that the place and its residents see the same sort of benefit.
@clot shots $1Bn investment to create 200 $50k/yr jobs isnt a great economic landscape for this project. I do hope it succeeds tho, sincerely. Its using an already existing, clean energy source, tapping into the earths natural features to prevent 'mining' even being necessary. This is potentially a win win win opportunity for the region. I will always remain skeptical of the greed inherent in the parties at the table tho.
The doubling down of geothermal energy & sucking a lubricating mineral from the geology in this area,which sits atop the San Andreas fault line,clearly has never been researched.
@clot shots WRONG ANSWER,Trump allowed over 200 new fraaking leases on public land in California, Biden did nothing to stop this new exploitation of California shale oil.
And as a final kick to the San Andreas fault line, more offshore wells between Huntington Beach and LA Jolla were sunk.
We really do need to tap the geothermal for power more than we do. We have a lot of geothermal capacity in the West and we barely use it. We also need to start building solar thermal desalination plants before we really need them.
Desalination plants work best for coastal, low elevation areas. For The drought problem of the southwest we need higher elevation freshwater from abundant sources to flow downhill to the Colorado basin.
They need to get on this ASAP!
visited the salton sea in the early 80s, seems a good place to completely dig up to make into something else.
The salton sea is great movie for those who haven’t seen it
also, the documentary, “plagues and pleasures of the salton sea” - very interesting 🔆
can't imagine the amount of red tape the state of California is putting these companies through to pull this off. hope it pays off for all involved
The is about green new deal. No way the left will stand in the way
Would love to see you do a short doc on lithium and the Great Salt Lake in Utah.
Cool 2 see this because it is the first positive modern news on this lake
Chinese and Indian import EV's will probably happen soon enough! I hope this project does go ahead though. The Salton Sea deserves better than its current state...
indian EV , lol . its wheels are probably square
@@Theactualstoic when i mean building EV, i mean actually building in , from the design phase. Rebadging doesnt count.
Beautiful 😍
I see why the push for electric.... instead of hydrogen like in the EU (eletric and hydrogen)
Actually a project everyone seems to want. Nice to see!
This sounds like an excellent project for America and the local residents!
No, the real cause of the Salton Sea's shrinking waters is the water transfer deal made by Imperial Irrigation District to sell water to San Diego, beginning in 2018, diverting this lake's only inflow. There is a big push by local enviro groups and others to import sea water via canal from Gulf of California to the south, a realistic option, which would greatly restore the Salton Sea's water and vitality. Just to help clarify. --A longtime local deeply familiar with this issue
That’s what I remember being told too. San Diego was using the water which lowered the water level at the salton sea exposing the toxic beaches to the wind.
That's true, but is it still as true today as it has been in the past considering the current region wide drought?
I notice though that SD County (don't know if that's supposed to include Imperial County) is under only a "moderate drought status" and not as extreme as the rest of the state and nearby states that rely on the Colorado.
I was going to mention these things myself so I'm glad someone else had the opportunity to jump in before me. One thing I will mention, it isn't the IID that is selling the water it's the farmers. They can make more money sell their water than growing food. My complaint to this is that it is not their water until it comes to their property.
So the California Aqueduct is where they take it out of the Colorado River and it's not even in the Imperial County. I don't think it's right and I don't think it's legal. It is sad that no one has the balls to take on the IID.
People need water to live even in SD
@@rcpmac, get it from the ocean. It's like a reservoir that has no end. Besides that San Diego and San Francisco are all going to be under water soon anyway when that big ice sheet drops off in the antarctic, then we won't have to worry about them. As far as that goes, the Imperial Valley will be under water too.
God bless California.
Is there any publicly held company that has a lithium project on the salton lake region other than Berk?
Lithium is currently in high demand, but with all the battery research, next year could well see a different hot product.
Some of the comments appear to indicate that people don't know that the Salton Sea is not a natural lake. It is the result of flooding on the Colorado River more than 100 years ago. The diversion gates for irrigation canals from the river to the Imperial Valley were washed out and there were no other control gates in the upper canals. The Colorado River flowed into the previously dry Salton Sink until construction workers and the Southern Pacific Railroad finally built new dikes along the river. The level of salt and metals has been increasing since the river was cut off. Some were dissolved salts from the dry lake and others came from irrigation drainage. Evaporation from the lake surface concentrated them even further. That is why the place is like it is now. It has never been a natural lake. The last time it was a natural sea was when it was still connected to the Gulf of California and part of the Pacific Ocean system.
Yes Allen, I note however the Sea part of it is cleverly combined with restoration giving the impression that it was a permanent sea/lake and that they're going to restore something back to something it was not in order to save it - which they aren't.
Slippery stuff indeed.
Now this is a great idea benefiting climate, jobs, american self reliance. The government though is running around building charging stations for vehicles most people cant afford. If the government actually had a plan and published it, businesses could figure out a way to get the most bang for the buck.
Ruth Rudnik said, "... The government though is running around building charging stations for vehicles most people cant afford..."
----------------
You will be relieved to know the federal government is not "running around building charging stations". Federal policy incentives provide tax breaks for those who do run around building charging stations, and if these do not provide the "bang" you anticipated, other businesses may succeed with better business plans. Federal policy helps open a door to many new energy technologies-- it is an exciting time, with much to gain.
@@bobgreene2892 I have yet to see an analysis of the expected benefit of these investments or a comparison of return from propsed green projects in general. There is not an infinite war chest for environmental protection. Were the economy in good shape, we would still benefit from prioritizing such projects.
@@ruthrudnik3214 You ask for a comparative analysis of expected benefit or a comparison of (expected) return. However, by definition, that is less valuable than deployment-- if on a limited basis-- to obtain actual field data.
@@bobgreene2892 collecting data? Never heard that mentioned as a reason. How about hitching posts?
@@bobgreene2892 okay Mr. Literal. How are these charging stations helping climate. Never used where I live. Cost benefit of EV? Where is the plan?
Today is my birthday. Thank you for this gift full of good hope.
Exciting! I hope this finally brings long term benefits to the people of the Imperial Valley.
Sounds like a well thought out holistic approach that has a real future for industry and local residents. Lower priced EV models are certainly a concern for the entire world that desperately needs to accelerate the mass adoption of electric vehicles.
Not happening… Electric cars are expensive
Local residents? lolno they gentrified the area. Housing went up three times in price in the past decade.
Sounds like a terrific opportunity for the U.S. economy and national security. Hopefully California doesn't do what it's best at and ruin it with political garbage.
"Stakeholder" is code for "I don't have an actual legal interest, but I want a slice anyway."
Never underestimate Cali.'s ability to f things up.
The anti green trolls will try to claim it causes pollution but this type of mining has zero pollution compared to normal mining operations.
The brine contains boron as well as lithium. Boron is also valuable and in demand.
That’s incredible!
Would be awesome, hope they make it happen.
it's gonna happen, Electric vehicles are about to take over
@@RoschetzkyPhotography Hope so! Would be wonderful if the Lithium could come from the US and be cleaner than what is being produced rn. Win-Win.
I saw no effort to remediate dust, whether from brine or the dust of the terrain.
Each of the plants environs needs to be at least sprinkled until they can get the space both cleaned and rehabbed As part of the R&D to set this up as payment to the state.
Also the state should get at least a 5 percent buy in, the taxpayers need some ownership or the developers will do what they normally do. Drop the improvements on the community and the environmental concerns of the citizens as neighbors.
Yeah , The dust. Got to be very bad in that area when it is the biggest thing killing people.
Back around 1990 I wrote dust measurement and analysis software for waste site remediation. A guy with a masters degree would walk around site with a dust meter and measure north east west and south then press analyze. If number too high they had to stop working.
Processing lithium from the Salton Sea would require 3x the amount of chemical processing, and would cost 3x as much.
Why?
@Anothercg Gmail they're banking IDKs. I Don't Know.
what happens to the hcl acid after it flooding the ceramic beads? is it then industrial waste? or just dumped in the desert?
Petroleum is a strategic military reserve and should be seen that way.
EVERY HOME IN THE COUNTRY is connected to the grid.
120million homes, the EV battery is a big battery for the 500 mile trip but daily drive is 40miles, 7kwh and the home need only 7kwh overnight.
So 16 solar PV panels on the rooftop, is 33kwh into the grid every day 24/7/365.
The grid is the power system with EV car battery automatically plugged in everywhere. 🇺🇸 USA.
Agreed , but when I looked into Solar panels , here are BIG problems , (1) It is not cheap, actually expensive (2) Local Utilities company also charge you to keep you on the grid, California was trying to pass a bills in 2022 to charge Solar homeowners to pay a monthly Fee , Horrible, (3) Local utilities company charge you or pay pennies when you feed the power back to the grid, so to the end, I am paying about the same money as if I don't have Solar, so Unless people can " afford " solar, otherwise, all the goods things will not happen,,,,,,,,,,,,,, by the way , solar don't work 24/7/365, there are evening , raining days etc , remember ???
@@JY-lg6ee you are right.
Let me add that the EV battery makes the difference.
I am not talking about individual areas or circumstances.
Some homes will have 2 or more EV.
As more homes with rooftop PV and EV come onto the grid the total numbers will change the environment, power costs will drop, but connection costs should remain the same.
We are in a transition time, and grid stability is an issue, and so pricing can modify our behaviour.
In Australia, which is the same size as the USA we have a grid that runs around half of our coast line, 5,000 klm.
And across 3 hour time zones meaning longer daylight feed into the grid.
It is always sunny somewhere. We have wind turbines, spinning some where. The USA will be better serviced.
The dispersed new supply will unload the grid peak loads and so make more energy available in work hours in some well located areas.
Home power savings and petroleum savings everyday can make a huge difference over the full year.
Politically when enough homes are feeding the grid, things will change.
Mexico would love to sell cheap power into the USA from solar farms, for example.
@@stephenbrickwood1602 what poor people will drive?
@@JY-lg6ee 2 points. the state of CA doesn't care about sustainable energy or climate change, CA's systemic corruption only cares about which powerful corporation (SCE) can bribe its politicians, Newsom, definitely, notwithstanding. also, the only way solar panels make sense is to have backup batteries for storage. otherwise, it's useless.
@@chrisdodt Yes, SCE kept raising electricity rate, another raising in Oct 2021. Can you believe the basic rate in L A areas is $ 0.27 per KWH ( from $0.23 per KWH ) ? If you use over the basic allocation ( around 400 KHW per month ) , it jump to $0.36 per KWH, With EV Prime special rate is $0.20 / KWH ...Plus daily Sur Charge of $0.40 ?? I think is among the HIGHEST in USA ..... and SCE can charge you what ever they want , the State Board who suppose to monitor it doesn't really care.....
There’s many Indian reservations around the lake with other toxic sites as well, they need to be included and compensated for the extraction and desecration of their lands
Trust me they get more than they deserve
Ask all the chiefs that eat up most of the village funds
@@jaychah2563 typical colonizer mentality
We won and we don't owe them anything.
@@Koraeffect bad loser. We won, face it.
Brilliant! Get it done please,,,
A better question might be... "Can the Salton Sea survive lithium mining?"
nope it will cause the greatest earthquake in the westcoast.
At 5:45 watch the fumes and water vapour get sucked back into the smoke stack! 😎
crazy how nature do dat
That's Jeannie! get back in your bottle!
Given the history of extractive industries they often don't help the communities they are in. This does seem to be the best place to extract lithium, but electric cars can only be a transition away from the automobile. Our automobile centric way of life is unsustainable.
I mean, what do you want? We need batteries even without EVs. We need power without carbon generation. This can provide both. Even if we all use trains and walk we'll still need power for structures, freight, and complaining that people are trying to solve problems the _wrong way_ on the internet.
'..cleanest, greatest source..'
The cost of doing business in California is to high to make it possible for any major company to open a start up business and have it become successful for many many years if at all.
If it sounds too good to be true, the whole truth isn’t being told. We don’t get something for nothing. 😏 They mention hydrochloric acid. Where do they get it and what is done with it later ?🤔🤨🧐
Hydrochloric acid is used extensively in industrial settings. Its even used in food manufacturing. It's a very common acid that requires proper handling.
We are not getting the whole story
So berkshaw sitting on a gold mine
What's the recycling plan for all the after products?
That was a lot about mining lithium but nothing about actually addressing the environmental and health problems with the lake.
One "little" caveat to this video is the statement of "California's surplus budget...". That doesn't exist. We need more private investment to make this work. That plus less over regulation, and this could be not just a local, but a National boon, both to the economy, AND the environment.
It's sad that Cali has the gdp higher than most countries but act like a teenager with a credit card so I'm sure nothing will come of this, we will get our lithium from south America or Africa
Hmm, googling “California Surplus Budget” says it’s $94 BN or something like that
What the hell are you talking about? I live in California and recently the state announced a $97 billion dollar surplus! Enjoy living in a fact free world?
Actually California has a 100 billion dollar Surplus they just announced this last week
Could run a above ground pipeline from Baja and fill it back up.
dig a canal. It is just a few feet of elevation up to the northern end of laguna salado in Mexico (west of Mexicali) then a few miles through a mountain pass and you are below sea level. However filling the salton sea basin would put cities underwater no matter how easy or economical it would be. I guess we should play nice with Mexico so they don't flood it.
Still need to figure out how to dispose of these batterys
We gotta do this!!!
When drilling for oil declines, geothermal drilling could replace it.
I wonder what the next gimmick will be when Lithium reserves are depleted (just like how they stated about fossil fuels)?
Lithium can be recycled. It's hard to do that with gasoline.
What do we do when batteries no longer hold a charge?
why does this feel like a big ol' commercial? My spidey senses are going off.
Well I think this is a moment when everything profiting depreciates, take a look and the crypto and stocks bleeding, the crypto market can be so volatile .
@Jacob Ethan I guess that's too late for me, already sold off my portfolio was down 40% got scary you know.
This sh*t just for real, BTC at $28k. Been really long since it hit this. But I'm HOLDING!
@Jacob Ethan Easily said than done. Also got myself in that situation, liquidated already.
@Jacob Ethan I find myself in this category, really trying hard to wrap My head around how it should be... recently joined the space and so far it's been losses
@Jacob Ethan How do you go about your analysis for crypto?
What if they made a Canal connecting the Salton Sea to the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez)?
I saw that there was a feasibility study on the possible Mega Project saying it could be possible in helping the Environmental issue of it as well as generating wealth but the fact that Mexico would have to be involved made it unlikely.
Give it a few million years, geologic forces will extend Sea of Cortez into the area of Salton Sea
@@williamlloyd3769 In geologic eras when sea levels were higher, the Gulf of California has extended as far north as Palm Springs.
A Big Win for the people of the Imperial and Coachella Valley's as well as the Nation and the rest of the world 🌍 ! 🔥❤️🔥💯🔥
no it aint
It’s like fracking but for lithium. Interesting
Take the process one step further: after the water has the lithium ionically remove, send that hot water into hot houses where it can evaporate and be collected on the ceiling. Then that collected purified water can be used to irrigate local farms.
I'm thinking, take that slurry from desalination plants and dump it there. As opposed to dumping it in the ocean and creating dead ocean zones
Great ideas y'all
Actually, the water needs to be pumped back into the earth like it already is or you will 1.) Comprmise the grou d stability, 2.) Reduce the amount of lithium leaching water in the ground and 3.) Reduce the brine steam coming out for the generation of power. Irrigation ends up with most of the water evaporating into the atmosphere and moving away. The area is a desert and doesnt get the heavy rainfall to naturally replenish the ground water. Furthermore, the amount of rainfall upriver going into the Colorado river has been decreasing too. So to maintain sustainability you have to return the limited ground water.
@@dedhampster4730 that's what slurry is, mostly. That and salt. Water in the ground will return to the low spot. So if you use subterranean irrigation the water "loss" will be minimal.
Since it's below sea level they should build a canal from the Pacific and make it a real inland sea. Maybe with an electricity producing dam by not letting it ever fill up completely. And all around it solar powered desalinization plants to make fresh water to keep all the farms around going. And then the brine could be used for extracting lithium as well. And the sea salt. Seems like there is potential for a "full circle" industry there. All clean.
Fill the Salton Sea with sea water from Gulf Of California. It will still be toxic, but diluted toxic - perhaps supporting more wildlife. It would also cover the dry land so less toxic dust blowing into community and causing respiratory problems. The refilled Salton Sea would probably have little impact on the lithium recovery from geothermal brine.
Salt is what is killing the region. That's what makes the Dead Sea, dead. I think we must face the music - and decontaminate the SuperFund site the old-fashioned way. At least extracting lithium from the dust before hazardous waste disposal, will help pay for some of it. THAT is where the money should go - not into the pockets of billionaires.
A neutron goes into a bar orders up a drink, bartender says for you "No charge."
Awesome. You can also extract it from desalination process of sea water if water continues being scarce we will have no choice but to desalinate ocean water
A common refrain from companies is "employees are our #1 asset" so I hope they put their money where their claims are and put some resources in site remediation. If they need an economic reason- by making the land safer to live in, the healthcare costs of these companies will go down a lot. Jobs and income are great if you can actually live.
They're not gonna do anything for the community and they're not gonna do anything for the environment that's just a dog and pony shows so they can get what they want from the place they need to get it from.
There's probably other sources under lake Mead and lake Powell which are why they're being drained too.💁♂️
Roughly 500,000 gallons of water goes into extracting 1 ton of lithium. To put that into perspective, it takes around 1 tablespoon of lithium to produce 1 cell phone, meaning, 500,000 gallons of water would make 190,000 cell phones.
How many of those 500,000 gallons of water can be recycled?
It is not 500,000 gallons of water. It is 500,000 gallons of lithium brine.
You're right! It's actually 724,637.688115942 gallons water per ton
@@steven4315
Build a pipeline to refill the Salton Sea with ocean water.
5:46 I'm amazed by the technology that allows a pipe to draw in a plume of steam. j/k
I have a friend who is a professor that does research on the Salton sea... she noted that there are data indicating that people who live near the Salton Sea have higher incidences of respiratory issues... most likely due to the dust coming off the Salton Sea. She is concerned mining/ extraction ops could make this worst for locals, including native Americans. Let's hope industry won't ramrod a mining/extraction plant through... Some of the folks can't just pick up and move... imagine how you'd feel having a big corporation like Tesla start operating in a way that can give you breathing issues...be mindful folks...
Have they not heard of lawyers.
Why can’t they move. They will be more than compensated. We can’t be paralyzed into doing nothing with the certainty of rising global temperatures.
@@rcpmac Moving is difficult, even for young and healthy people. The Salton Sea area, from what I understand, is a unique place with a unique culture and unique people. Many of the residents are poor and could not afford to move, let alone rent a place elsewhere in California. Some of them are squatting on Federal land. I doubt the people who have lived there for decades would want to live somewhere else, even if you paid them.
But they're not mining.
@@bob_frazier Doesn't matter. The dust blowing off of the dry lakebed still affects people.
Nice!! This would be good!! Because the salton sea areas are very poor! So I hope the people organize and don’t let the government or corporations steal their wealth!!!
Just came from videos about the Colorado River drying up :( but it looks like life goes on. I hope America learns to adapt!
Sea water shipping canal to the Gulf of Cortez could replace water levels & provide both cooling & "free" fresh desalinated water from condesation of the evaporative cooling... also a connection siphon to & later Hydro dam to Death Valley
A dam on Death Valley National Park? What are you talking about?? Death Valley is 150 miles or so from the Salton Sea. Who wants to turn it into a lake?
@@exrobowidow1617 there is mining already there using unstainable precious fossils groundwater. Sea water would replace that & generate Hydro power even with siphon.
@@mysoneffa2417 There is no mining in Death Valley. The last mine there closed years ago. Why are you even talking about Death Valley? The video is about the Salton Sea, not Death Valley. They are two different places.