RENO, Nev. (AP) — A federal permit for a new lithium mining project in Nevada has been approved under President Joe Biden, marking a significant step in his clean energy initiatives. This decision comes despite strong opposition from conservationists who threaten to sue, arguing that the mine threatens the survival of an endangered wildflower.
The Rhyolite Ridge lithium mine, operated by Ioneer Ltd., is crucial for producing lithium, a key component in electric vehicle batteries, which are central to Biden’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Officials highlighted the importance of this mine for advancing the clean energy transition during a press conference in Reno.
“This project is vital for propelling the clean energy transition and driving the economy of the future,” said Acting Deputy Interior Secretary Laura Daniel-Davis. She emphasized the possibility of responsible mineral development while safeguarding our public lands and natural resources.
After six years of planning, Ioneer is set to begin construction of the mine next year, located in the high desert between Reno and Las Vegas. Production is expected to start in 2028 and will provide enough lithium to power 370,000 electric vehicles annually for over 20 years. According to optimism surrounding the sector, the global lithium demand is projected to grow sixfold by 2030 compared to 2020 levels.
“I can confidently state that there are few lithium deposits worldwide as significant as Rhyolite Ridge,” stated Ioneer Executive Chairman James Calaway during the announcement.
Calaway further noted that the approval of the federal permit is a testament to the hard work of their team and represents one of the most sustainable mining projects in the nation. The Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) granted this permit following a review by the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), which determined that the mine would not threaten the survival of Tiehm’s buckwheat, a newly designated endangered species.
However, environmentalists argue that the approval reflects a politically driven disregard for U.S. environmental laws. The Center for Biological Diversity expressed their intention to pursue legal action, claiming, “litigation is now the only way to halt the Rhyolite Ridge Mine.” Patrick Donnelly, the center’s Great Basin director, criticized the Biden administration for failing to protect species like Tiehm’s buckwheat and undermining the Endangered Species Act.
Currently, there are fewer than 30,000 of these wildflowers left in their natural habitat in Nevada, which spans only about 10 acres—equivalent to the area of approximately eight football fields. The project will come within 15 feet of the buckwheat, potentially impacting its critical habitat, which is essential for neighboring bees and other pollinators.
While the FWS maintains that the operation should not disturb the plants directly, they acknowledge the mining activities may lead to the loss of some designated critical habitats. They believe that the plans for reclamation, mitigation, and monitoring will ensure that the buckwheat can coexist alongside the mining operations, which will extend deeper than a football field.
Opponents of the mine view it as another instance of the Biden administration neglecting U.S. commitments to protect native wildlife, endangered species, and sacred tribal lands amid the urgency to tackle climate change and secure essential minerals. “We’ve been fighting to save Tiehm’s buckwheat for six years and we’re not giving up now,” Donnelly confirmed.
Nevada is home to the only operational lithium mine in the U.S., with another mine under construction near the Oregon border. The Lithium Americas mine at Thacker Pass was approved during Donald Trump’s administration and has faced multiple legal challenges from environmentalists and Native American tribes concerned for their sacred lands where historical conflicts with U.S. troops occurred in 1865.
