The Tiny Nation at the Vanguard of Mining the Ocean Floor
Below the waters of the Cook Islands, population 15,000, lie minerals used to power electric cars. Extracting them could bring riches, but many say it’s a bad idea.
Energy Department Offers $2.3 Billion Loan to Boost Lithium Production
Demand for lithium, which is used in electric vehicle batteries, has soared but domestic production of the metal has lagged behind other countries.
Three Climate Takeaways From Indonesia’s Presidential Election and the Vote for Subianto
The presumed winner supports policies that have led to a boom in coal-burning, but also to the creation of a nascent electric-battery industry.
Rare Earth Metals May Be Lurking in Your Junk Drawer
And that’s a good thing. They’re critical for renewable energy, and a new study says recovering them from old cellphones and other waste could help meet the demand.
Norway Moves to Allow Seabed Mining Exploration
The decision in Parliament, opposed by environmentalists, will allow prospectors to start surveying the country’s waters.
Electric Vehicle Push Returns North Carolina to Its Lithium Mining Roots
After decades of stagnation, the Tar Heel State is the beneficiary of a lithium rush fueled by demand for car batteries.
Relax, Electric Vehicles Really Are the Best Choice for the Climate
Electric vehicles really are better for the environment than hybrid vehicles that have both gas and electric motors.
Exxon Mobil Plans to Produce Lithium in Arkansas
The move is the oil giant’s first foray in the production of a metal vital for electric vehicle batteries.
The U.S. Can Counter China’s Control of Minerals for the Energy Transition
America needs to invest in mining and build resilient supply chains for the building blocks of electric batteries.
Pacific Seabed Mining Delayed as International Agency Finalizes Rules
Efforts to extract the metals used in car batteries have been pushed off amid pressure from environmentalists and nations that oppose them.