Why Tesla and GM Are Betting on U.S. Mines Now | WSJ

The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal
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Published 2024-04-16
The U.S. is racing to secure its own lithium and nickel, which is used in battery production for products like EVs and other tech. Today, China produces more than 85% of the world’s batteries. So how is the U.S. pushing to mine battery metals needed for the energy transition and for national security?

WSJ takes an inside look at two projects that are seeking to change the mineral supply chain, the Thacker Pass Lithium Mine in Nevada and the Tamarack Mine in Minnesota.

Chapters:
0:00 U.S. mines
0:49 Supply chain stakes
2:06 Lithium Americas
3:15 Talon Metals
4:37 Challenges

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All Comments (21)
  • @wsj
    What does it take to transform coal power plants into solar energy plants? Watch the dirty, explosive process at a Minnesota plant: on.wsj.com/49GMLuO
  • @GetOutsideYourself
    Wait a second. The Salton Sea in California is not on the USA's largest lithium deposit, but largest in the world.
  • @Mohan-jd8fc
    I personally believe that's a good initiative by the US govt.
  • @gund89123
    infrastructure bill, CHIPs act, and investing in development of US supply chain for lithium were best investments.
  • @bertjames436
    YT Quick Survey: For your shared investing ideas, what do you think will be the next Apple/Microsoft in terms of growth?
  • @carlos2003177
    I don’t think the problem is extracting it… the problem is the use of water and how to dispose of said water once it is used for its purpose. Is it toxic? And to what extent?
  • @juliane__
    Mg as byproduct, nice. Its needed in the near future as contruction material. Its not a lithium mine nor magnesium mine, turns out its actually a gold mine.
  • @ccharles848
    The Sultan Sea in So Cal also has TONS of lithium. 😎
  • @waltertodd4479
    Im so glad to see discussions about the minerals supply chain. Its absolutely critical to the American standard of living yet mining is so opposed in the USA.
  • @weirdshibainu
    Thacker Pass is a beautiful area....sad it's going to get destroyed.
  • @robf8349
    We are in for a painful near future. Over decades of offshoring and disinvestment we have forgotten how to build many things. Mines, power plants, chip factories, transmission lines, subway systems, shipping are all needed and yet we struggle to produce them. We used to be world class builders in all of these. But we failed to train the current generations on the skills needed for such things and now we will have to slowly relearn. I pray there is the political will to continue these investments when inevitably problems arise and costs balloon. This is unavoidable at first but with enough funds and time we can regain our position as world class builders.
  • @andyjohnson3790
    For decades the US has been the largest importer of many precious metals and elements in either raw form or processed goods, and then usually throws it in the garbage at end of use. Reduce, Reuse, and then Recycle. It's crazy to imagine how much more materials would be available around the entire world if everyone actually recycled PROPERLY. ✌️🌲🌍🌳🌎✌️♻️
  • @gio7388
    Demand for vehicles will increase when the fed lowers interest rates and/or when MSRP comes down. The whole car market is down, not just EVs.
  • @RCdiy
    When 800V was broken up my reaction was split the battery packs in two. For driving they are in series and charging in parallel.