Utah lithium drilling: Water rights debate on the Green River may stop project
The state engineer recently approved water rights for lithium drilling on the Green River. She is now reconsidering her decision. Lithium extraction requires a lot of water. An Australian company promises that a new method uses virtually no water to draw out the metal, which is a fundamental element for rechargeable batteries used in phones, computers, cameras — and especially electric vehicles. The Biden administration considers lithium vital to the nation’s transition to cleaner, renewable energy, and in her approval, Utah State Engineer Teresa Wilhelmsen cited a growing demand for lithium and batteries. But a group of farmers, residents and environmentalists said that using water from the drought-plagued Colorado River system for an unproven project opens a dangerous door.