A Chinese-dominated mining company has procured millions of dollars in American subsidies to extract lithium in the United States
but, given a dearth of U.S. processing capacity, the mineral is likely to be sent to China with no guarantee that the end product would return as batteries to power President Biden's envisioned green economy.
Critics say this would increase US energy dependence on a hostile power.
The White House in March issued an order invoking the Defense Production Act
a 1950's-era law meant to prioritize production of materials in the name of national security
The action allows the federal government to direct taxpayer funds to private companies to extract more lithium in the U.S. - including foreign-based interests.
Prominent in the initiative is Canadian-based Lithium Americas, which is seeking to mine lithium from Thacker Pass, an 18,000-acre wilderness area on the Nevada-Oregon border.
Biden and Khashoggi
President Trump fist-bumped Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman following his visit to try to increase oil production.
At home, the climate change-focused administration has imposed or proposed policies intended to hinder fossil fuel producers in an effort to combat climate change.
There are other ramifications to Biden's willingness to cut against the traditional Democratic Party grain in energy policy
Mining and solar plant development are disrupting federal lands claimed by Native American tribes as culturally significant
Native American communities lean to Democrats and in 2020 gave Biden an estimated 60% percent of their vote, but that support is now counterbalanced by the National Mining Association, a longtime coal-mining advocacy group, which has backed off its favoritism of Republican candidates
Gary McKinney, a spokesman for the People of Red Mountain, a Native American group challenging the Thacker Pass mine, sees a familiar ulterior motive at play
https://noqreport.com/2022/07/21/rights-abuser-china-emerging-as-dubious-linchpin-of-bidens-lithium-battery-supply-chain/
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