But that may soon change for an unexpected reason.
Lithium is essential forlithium-ion batteries, which power electric vehicles and energy storage.
Demand for these batteries is quickly rising, but theU.S.
The Elmore geothermal plant near the Salton Sea began operating in 1989.
Berkshire Hathaway Energy
Enough lithium to far exceed todays US demand
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Geothermal brines arethe concentrated liquid left overafter heat and steam are extracted at a geothermal plant.
In the Salton Sea plants, these brines contain high concentrations about 30% of dissolved solids.
The annual market value of this metal would be over $5 billion at current prices.
Adding another domestic source of lithium could improve energy and mineral security for the United States and its allies.
They suggest that the era of geothermal as the forgotten renewable energy may be ending.
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