In the latest episode of the "Race to Beat China at Its Own Game," the Biden administration just gave the green light for the U.S.'s first lithium mine under its watch. And no, this isn’t just another hole in the ground—it’s the Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron Project, courtesy of Australian mining company Ioneer Ltd., nestled in the middle of Nowhere, Nevada. You’ve probably never heard of it, but soon enough it’ll be powering your electric vehicle while simultaneously enraging environmentalists (he he). 

(Source: Giphy) 

Now as we all know, lithium is kind of a big deal. It’s the stuff that makes your electric car zoom and your phone stay alive for more than 10 minutes. And until now, China has been the reigning champ in controlling most of the world’s lithium supply. Enter Biden and his ragtag team of Dem’s, who are determined to shift that balance, starting right here in the good ol’ U.S. of A. 

(Source: Washington Post) 

Which means Ioneer’s project just got its federal permit, with construction planned for 2025 and lithium production in 2028. Yep, that’s right—by the time this thing actually produces anything, your iPhone 20 will probably be out. But hey, we’re playing the long game here - with some juicy numbers attached. 

For instance, the Rhyolite Ridge mine is expected to churn out enough lithium to power 370,000 electric vehicles each year for the next two decades. That’s a lot of Teslas, my friend. And it’s not just Ford and Toyota getting in on the action—Panasonic’s on board too. The Department of Energy has already dangled a $700 million carrot to Ioneer, because apparently, clean energy transitions don’t come cheap.

(Source: Nevada Independent) 

Oh, and in case you’re wondering, the U.S. currently produces just 2% of the world’s lithium. So, this dirty new mine isn’t just a win for Nevada—it’s a win for anyone who doesn’t want to rely on China for their next battery charge. Can I get an Amen to that? 

(Source: Giphy) 

Of course though, no good deed goes unpunished. The Rhyolite Ridge mine is also home to Tiehm’s buckwheat, a rare wildflower that’s basically the floral equivalent of a unicorn. Naturally, this has environmentalists freaking out because the mine could push the flower to extinction, and the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) is already sharpening its legal knives for a court battle.

(Source: AP) 

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), however, says, “Don’t worry, we’ve got this” as they’ve carved out 719 acres of habitat for the flower and insist that the mine won’t jeopardize its survival. But let’s be real, this is the government (a.k.a FLOODED with greed) vs. Mother Nature—place your bets accordingly.

Meaning, we now have a tradeoff friends: Electric Cars or Endangered Flowers? Which one is more important (warning: if you say endangered flowers you may have two Dads… JKJK) - but alas, this whole saga highlights the uncomfortable truth about the clean energy transition: it’s not all windmills and solar panels. 

(Source: Giphy) 

The lithium we need to save the planet might also kill a few flowers (and probably some squirrels, but that’s a whole other story). It’s the classic environment vs. environment dilemma—save the climate, or save the biodiversity? Biden, who’s legit on his last leg and channeling his inner “get off my lawn” energy, is going for the former, and Tiehm’s buckwheat is about to become the poster child for the latter.

(Source: Giphy) 

And right now, they’re looking at the Rhyolite Ridge as a big win for the U.S. lithium game, and a bigger statement in the global race for critical minerals. Sure, it’s gome some baggage - a pending lawsuit from environmentalists, a rare flower on the brink—but what’s a massive mining project without a little controversy?

In the end, we're ramping up our EV industry one mine and one extinction at a time, and whether it’s worth it… well, that’s a debate for another day. In the meantime, keep an eye on lithium stocks - and as always, stay safe and stay frosty, friends! Until next time… 

P.S. At 9:35am EST yesterday morning, our screeners were flashing major SQUEEZE signs on one little known stock priced at $1.43 - whereas, in less than 5 minutes from notifying our premium members, this stock annihilated shorts, hitting a peak of 193.47% in less than ONE hour! Don’t miss the next massive leg up on this multi-day runner, click here now for the details…

Stocks.News holds positions in Tesla and Ford as mentioned in the article.