GM Thacker Pass Lithium Mine Project Allowed To Move Forward
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GM and Lithium Americas have received the green light from regulators to begin construction of the new Thacker Pass mine project in Nevada. Lithium Americas and GM announced a new joint venture to develop the Thacker Pass mine early this year. The site contains valuable minerals that will be extracted and used in the production of future GM EVs.
GM’s Ultium battery
Per a report from Reuters, the U.S. Interior Department found that the proposed site of the new Thacker Pass mine did indeed contain the raw minerals required for EV battery production. The finding was one of the last obstacles standing in the way of construction.
“We’re committed to doing this job right and meeting or exceeding state and federal regulations as we advance construction,” said the CEO of Lithium Americas, Jon Evans. Back in January, GM and Lithium Americas announced a new joint venture that included a $650 million investment from GM, the largest-ever investment by an automaker to produce raw battery materials. The raw materials will be be used to help GM reach its goal of building more than 1 million EVs annually in North America by 2025.
“Direct sourcing critical EV raw materials and components from suppliers in North America and free-trade-agreement countries helps make our supply chain more secure, helps us manage cell costs, and creates jobs,” said GM CEO Mary Barra in conjunction with the announcement of the new joint venture.
GM’s Ultium battery
The Thacker Pass site is considered the largest known source of raw lithium in the U.S., and the third-largest source in the world.
In February, a federal judge ordered the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to determine if the 1,300 acres of land where Lithium Americas was set to dump waste products contained a significant amount of lithium. A ruling made last year states that companies do not necessarily have the right to dump waste rocks or construct buildings on Federal property unless it contains significant amounts of valuable materials.
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Good news indeed for a couple reasons. First, you can expect it to be done more environmentally friendly in the U.S. Second, it provides U.S. companies with a more reliable supply source in times of scarcity. We are fortunate to have lithium resources in North America.
So is it Tracker Pass or Thacker Pass? Both names appear multiple times in this story.
Thacker. Apologies for the typos
Can’t drill for gas or oil having little impact but can rip huge gashes in the earth for lithium.
Go Brandon
At least it all won’t be dependent on China
Not a word about the indigenous opposition to the project which is located in sacred land. Shame.