Nevada Lithium Mine Approved, Sparking Endangered Wildflower Concerns

Nevada’s Rhyolite Ridge lithium mine gets federal approval, but environmental groups plan to sue over risks to an endangered plant.

A Hyundai KONA Electric charges at a charging station in Sydney on Jan. 19, 2021. Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

Federal officials approved a new lithium-boron mine in Nevada on Thursday, moving forward with President Joe Biden’s plans to produce enough lithium to power electric vehicles.

The Rhyolite Ridge project, led by Australia-based Ioneer Ltd., is expected to supply enough lithium to power 370,000 electric vehicles annually.