Do some environmentalists oppose a Nevada lithium mine supported by the Biden Administration?

The Biden administration has conditionally offered to loan $700 million to Ioneer, Ltd. to develop its Rhyolite Ridge lithium mine in Nevada, which would become the second lithium mine in the U.S. The loan would enable the project to be constructed and begin producing lithium in 2026 and is part of a broader federal effort to create a domestic supply chain for lithium batteries so more emission-free cars can be produced.

The mine is pending required approval from the U.S. Interior Department. Rhyolite Ridge is home to the world’s only Tiehm’s buckwheat wildflower population, which the U.S. government recently declared an endangered species. As a result, the Center for Biological Diversity opposes development of the mine, as proposed. Ioneer has said it supports the endangered species designation and has pledged to protect Tiehm’s buckwheat while still mining in the area.