Avishai Artsy

So Luis's group sued to stop the project, or at least to slow it down. They joined another group called Earthworks. And they've listed a bunch of concerns, water usage, air quality. And they said that Indigenous groups weren't adequately consulted.

So Luis's group sued to stop the project, or at least to slow it down. They joined another group called Earthworks. And they've listed a bunch of concerns, water usage, air quality. And they said that Indigenous groups weren't adequately consulted.

So Luis's group sued to stop the project, or at least to slow it down. They joined another group called Earthworks. And they've listed a bunch of concerns, water usage, air quality. And they said that Indigenous groups weren't adequately consulted.

Yeah, Rod says that the lawsuit has slowed the project down by a year or more.

Yeah, Rod says that the lawsuit has slowed the project down by a year or more.

Yeah, Rod says that the lawsuit has slowed the project down by a year or more.

Now, a Superior Court judge did throw out the activist lawsuit earlier this year. They're now appealing that decision. But meanwhile, the company is looking to start construction on the geothermal power and lithium extraction plant. You know, they have customers waiting for this lithium. They've already made purchase agreements with auto manufacturers like GM and Stellantis.

Now, a Superior Court judge did throw out the activist lawsuit earlier this year. They're now appealing that decision. But meanwhile, the company is looking to start construction on the geothermal power and lithium extraction plant. You know, they have customers waiting for this lithium. They've already made purchase agreements with auto manufacturers like GM and Stellantis.

Now, a Superior Court judge did throw out the activist lawsuit earlier this year. They're now appealing that decision. But meanwhile, the company is looking to start construction on the geothermal power and lithium extraction plant. You know, they have customers waiting for this lithium. They've already made purchase agreements with auto manufacturers like GM and Stellantis.

So now Rod says the goal is to start generating geothermal energy by the end of 2026 and start extracting lithium in 2027. But this is just the latest version of Delay. I met up with a guy named Ryan Kelly. He's on the board of supervisors for Imperial County. We met up at his house and we drove to the Salton Sea in his pickup truck and he gave me a tour.

So now Rod says the goal is to start generating geothermal energy by the end of 2026 and start extracting lithium in 2027. But this is just the latest version of Delay. I met up with a guy named Ryan Kelly. He's on the board of supervisors for Imperial County. We met up at his house and we drove to the Salton Sea in his pickup truck and he gave me a tour.

So now Rod says the goal is to start generating geothermal energy by the end of 2026 and start extracting lithium in 2027. But this is just the latest version of Delay. I met up with a guy named Ryan Kelly. He's on the board of supervisors for Imperial County. We met up at his house and we drove to the Salton Sea in his pickup truck and he gave me a tour.

Ryan Kelly went away to college and then came back. He worked as a firefighter and an EMT. He was also mayor of his hometown, and he's been trying to get lithium extraction off the ground for well over a decade. Wow.

Ryan Kelly went away to college and then came back. He worked as a firefighter and an EMT. He was also mayor of his hometown, and he's been trying to get lithium extraction off the ground for well over a decade. Wow.

Ryan Kelly went away to college and then came back. He worked as a firefighter and an EMT. He was also mayor of his hometown, and he's been trying to get lithium extraction off the ground for well over a decade. Wow.

So you've been a supervisor since 2012 and I think you've been working on lithium that whole time. Is it frustrating that it's taking this long and we're still not seeing active lithium mining here?

So you've been a supervisor since 2012 and I think you've been working on lithium that whole time. Is it frustrating that it's taking this long and we're still not seeing active lithium mining here?

So you've been a supervisor since 2012 and I think you've been working on lithium that whole time. Is it frustrating that it's taking this long and we're still not seeing active lithium mining here?

Yeah, it tells us that it's a lot harder than you would think to get critical minerals out of the ground. Even if you have the technology there, there are other things that get in the way. In other places like Nevada and Arizona, there are similar projects that have been held up by lawsuits from environmental activists and indigenous tribes who don't want to see this happening in their backyard.

Yeah, it tells us that it's a lot harder than you would think to get critical minerals out of the ground. Even if you have the technology there, there are other things that get in the way. In other places like Nevada and Arizona, there are similar projects that have been held up by lawsuits from environmental activists and indigenous tribes who don't want to see this happening in their backyard.