A study has uncovered significant amounts of lithium in the wastewater produced from hydraulic fracturing, known as fracking, throughout Pennsylvania. This discovery could give the U.S. a sizable domestic supply of a critical mineral that is vital for producing renewable energy technology, which heavily relies on lithium for the production of batteries used in electric vehicles and clean power storage.
The global demand for lithium is expected to increase 42-fold over the next two decades. Meanwhile, countries around the globe shift toward greener energy solutions. However, in Pennsylvania alone, the lithium present in fracking wastewater could potentially meet 40% of the United States’ domestic needs.
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The presence of lithium in this wastewater can be traced back to ancient volcanic eruptions that occurred millions of years ago during the age of the dinosaurs. The volcanic ash from these eruptions contained lithium, which gradually seeped into the groundwater.
Today, this lithium-rich water is being brought to the surface through fracking operations initially intended for fossil fuel extraction.
Environmentalists have expressed concerns that oil companies might leverage this finding to advocate for increased drilling activities.
The wells producing the lithium-rich wastewater are predicted to see an 80% decline in output within the first two years of extraction. Maintaining a steady lithium supply would therefore require continuous fracking operations, raising questions on environmental impacts and long-term sustainability of this process.
Tags: Donald Trump, Electric Vehicle Batteries, Electric vehicles, Fossil Fuels, Joe Biden, lithium, Pennsylvania, Renewable energy
Jack Alymer: COULD A GREENER FUTURE FOR OUR PLANET COME FROM DRILLING INTO IT?
Former President Donald Trump:
“Drill Baby drill”
Jack Alymer: NOW- THIS MIGHT SEEM COUNTERPRODUCTIVE.
BUT A NEW STUDY HAS FOUND MAJOR AMOUNTS OF LITHIUM IN THE WASTEWATER PRODUCED FROM FRACKING.
THE CLEAN ENERGY TRANSITION CAN’T HAPPEN WITHOUT LITHIUM-
GLOBAL DEMAND FOR IT IS EXPECTED TO EXPLODE.
42-FOLD OVER THE COMING YEARS.
AND IN PENNSYLVANIA ALONE: THERE’S ENOUGH LITHIUM TO MEET ALMOST HALF OF U.S. DOMESTIC NEEDS-
ALL COMING FROM FRACKING WASTEWATER.
SO, HOW DID IT ALL GET THERE? AND WHY ARE WE JUST NOW FINDING IT?
TO ANSWER THAT – WE NEED TO REWIND THE CLOCK A FEW MILLION YEARS.
ANCIENT VOLCANOES ARE BELIEVED TO BE RESPONSIBLE – ERUPTING BACK WHEN DINOSAURS STILL ROAMED THE EARTH.
THE ASH FROM THESE ERUPTIONS CONTAINED LITHIUM.
EVENTUALLY SEEPING INTO WATER TRAPPED UNDERGROUND.
BACK TO THE PRESENT – THAT LITHIUM SATURATED H-2-0 IS BEING BLASTED TO THE SURFACE BY HUMANS FRACKING FOR FOSSIL FUELS.
FINDING THIS MUCH LITHIUM WITHIN U.S. BORDERS SOUNDS LIKE A WIN ON PAPER FOR THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND THEIR GREEN ENERGY PLANS.
BUT, ENVIRONMENTALISTS FEAR OIL COMPANIES WILL USE THIS DISCOVERY TO ADVOCATE FOR MORE NEW DRILLING PROJECTS.
SOMETHING BIDEN HAS EXPRESSED A DESIRE TO PUT A STOP TO IN THE PAST.
IF FRACKING ENDS, SO TO WILL THE LITHIUM SUPPLY THAT’S NEEDED TO PRODUCE MORE RENEWABLE TECH.
AND INCREASED FRACKING COULD MEAN INCREASED PRODUCTION OF THIS CRITICAL MINERAL.
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