Summary

• Berkshire Hathaway Energy and Occidental reported milestones in extracting lithium chloride, converting it to lithium hydroxide, and making battery-grade lithium carbonate from geothermal brines.
• The work builds on technology originally developed by Simbol Materials, which remains influential in the Salton Sea lithium sector despite the startup's collapse.
• The region's geothermal brines offer a potential source of lithium for EV and grid-storage batteries while also supporting 24/7 clean electricity generation.
• Commercial scale remains unproven, and multiple companies have faced technical obstacles, cost pressures, and uncertainty about whether extraction can be economic.
• Imperial County projects are tied to broader industrial plans for "Lithium Valley," but local communities continue to raise concerns about water use, air quality, consultation, and land impacts.
• The policy case for the buildout has weakened somewhat amid softer lithium prices and more uncertain federal support for clean manufacturing and EV incentives.
• Environmental justice and tribal sovereignty issues remain central, with calls for enforceable community benefits agreements and stronger review processes.