Excerpt greenmatters.com
Generally, large-scale drilling projects come with obvious negative connotations. Fuel companies use heavy machinery to ravage untouched natural lands, not only damaging ecosystems irreparably and releasing toxins, but also supplying us with even more pollutive non-renewable fuel. Environmentalists nationwide, however, are currently celebrating the start of a brand new project, that involves drilling in the Salton Sea for something called “white gold” — so why is this a good thing?
“The geothermal brine at the Salton Sea is unique in the world,” Berkshire Hathaway Energy’s VP for Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Jonathan Weisgall told KESQ wistfully, in hopes that Berkshire will be one of the early companies to open a state-funded lithium demonstration facility. “If this is a baseball game, we’re still in the first inning, but we’re pretty confident we’re gonna win this game.”
What you need to know about drilling for white gold in the Salton Sea:
Over the last year, one of California’s largest lakes, the Salton Sea, has made headlines for a disheartening reason: due to climate change it’s almost entirely dried up, and it’s now releasing toxic dust and decayed matter into the air. But now, the famous body of water is making headlines for something positive: energy companies are currently pursuing a long-winded project that involves drilling for something called white gold, according to The Los Angeles Times. But white gold isn’t what you think it is.