Newsom Promised California a Lithium Bonanza. It Still Hasn’t Arrived.
Aaron Cantú
April 1, 2026
Local officials blame environmentalists for long delays, but politics, technology and markets are the culprits.
Power and Peril in California’s Lithium Valley
Imperial County has been pitched a starring role in California’s green energy future as “Lithium Valley,” a place that, despite a history of environmental challenges and inequities, stands to benefit from energy resources that are key to the state’s climate goals. This series examines the competing priorities over energy development, public health and economic growth and whether Imperial Valley’s predominantly Latino communities will ever get the benefits they’ve been promised.
Local officials blame environmentalists for long delays, but politics, technology and markets are the culprits.