PDF Publication Title:
Text from PDF Page: 051
Seven questions were generated to represent these research aims, with dozens of prodding questions crafted to dig deeper into specific stakeholders’ disciplines and areas of expertise (see Supplemental Information E). All questions were evaluated by The Nature Conservancy, UCLA faculty, and UCLA peers from the Master of Urban and Regional Planning Program before they were finalized. An initial cohort of stakeholders for interviews were chosen through their connection to either lithium extraction, the surrounding communities of Thacker Pass or the Salton Sea, or their advocacy and expertise in issues that connect to lithium processing or its supply chain. Stakeholder groups consisted of the mining and energy industries, environmental and environmental justice organizations, community organizations, tribes, government officials, and academic researchers. Interviews were conducted over Zoom or on the phone and lasted anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes. Interviews began in January and ended in May. After interviews commenced, a “snowball” method was employed to gain introductions to additional stakeholders. An effort was made to balance the variety of organizations and interests to include as many perspectives as possible. Out of 65 invited stakeholders representing 30 organizations, 14 stakeholders responded to interview requests. There were 6 stakeholders for the Salton Sea and 8 for Thacker Pass. Stakeholders from the Salton Sea consisted of two community and environmental justice organizations, two environmental organizations, one industry consultant, and one academic researcher who also provides consultation to DLE industry research. Thacker Pass stakeholders consisted of four environmental organizations, one advocacy group, two government officials, and one industry consultant. After each interview, the conversation was transcribed and coded to highlight common themes surrounding the research question and aims. Regulatory frameworks for California, Nevada, and the federal government were used to ground observations. Each geographic area was analyzed on its own given the disparate nature of the two sites. This methodology allowed for direct input from those most affected by state and federal government policies. The open nature of semi-structured interviews allowed participants to discuss freely, and in detail, what was most important to them. However, there are weaknesses of this design. First, the number of participants was limited given the time parameters of this study. The effort to balance perspectives meant more time spent attempting to contact unresponsive stakeholders, and this contributed to a lower participation rate. Further, the two case study areas differ significantly, having their own niches, meaning more time was needed to understand the nuances of extraction technology, regulatory policy, ecosystems associated with each site, and the different community identities and histories of the Salton Sea and Thacker Pass. Additionally, extraction at each site is not in operation yet. This resulted in uncertainty about associated impacts, making the policy recommendations more speculative. RESULTS AND ANALYSIS This section provides detailed stakeholder responses by site. Although the questions posed to stakeholders were almost identical, thematic responses varied greatly between the two sites. This again is a function of different extraction technologies, governing regulatory frameworks, ecosystems associated with each site, and the different community identities and histories. Insights from stakeholders in the Salton Sea center on the community impacts of energy and industrial expansion. The project at Thacker Pass represented a more contentious environmental battle according to stakeholders, with ongoing litigation to stop lithium mining by environmental organizations and three tribes. To address these differences, each case study is presented separately below, allowing for a closer look at associated environmental impacts, regulatory insights, community engagements, economic impacts, and broader societal implications. An abbreviated version of results is shown in the table on the next two pages. Policy dimensions are represented throughout each subsection. Potential Lithium Extraction in the United States: Environmental, Economic, and Policy Implications 51 AUGUST 2022PDF Image | Potential Lithium Extraction in the United States
PDF Search Title:
Potential Lithium Extraction in the United StatesOriginal File Name Searched:
Lithium_Report_FINAL.pdfDIY PDF Search: Google It | Yahoo | Bing
Product and Development Focus for Infinity Turbine
ORC Waste Heat Turbine and ORC System Build Plans: All turbine plans are $10,000 each. This allows you to build a system and then consider licensing for production after you have completed and tested a unit.Redox Flow Battery Technology: With the advent of the new USA tax credits for producing and selling batteries ($35/kW) we are focussing on a simple flow battery using shipping containers as the modular electrolyte storage units with tax credits up to $140,000 per system. Our main focus is on the salt battery. This battery can be used for both thermal and electrical storage applications. We call it the Cogeneration Battery or Cogen Battery. One project is converting salt (brine) based water conditioners to simultaneously produce power. In addition, there are many opportunities to extract Lithium from brine (salt lakes, groundwater, and producer water).Salt water or brine are huge sources for lithium. Most of the worlds lithium is acquired from a brine source. It's even in seawater in a low concentration. Brine is also a byproduct of huge powerplants, which can now use that as an electrolyte and a huge flow battery (which allows storage at the source).We welcome any business and equipment inquiries, as well as licensing our turbines for manufacturing.CONTACT TEL: 608-238-6001 Email: greg@infinityturbine.com (Standard Web Page)