Issue 12: Imperial County’s lithium economic plan gets its most prized endorsement
In a letter headed to Gov. Gavin Newsom, the Lithium Valley Commission endorsed Imperial County’s plan to gain authority over many key aspects of the emerging lithium industry in the region.
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Imperial County’s Lithium Economic Plan Lands a Big Win
Imperial County got perhaps its most valuable endorsement on Thursday with the Lithium Valley Commission approving a letter of support for the county’s Lithium Valley economic plan.
The letter of support is headed straight to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk, just in time for his May revision of the state’s budget.
You can read all the details of this development in my story for the Calexico Chronicle.
It is a significant development in that the Lithium Valley Commission likely has more influence over Newsom when it comes to giving funding for green energy projects in California. The letter literally from the commission says it strongly urges Newsom to do everything he can “to help Imperial County make (its) requests a reality.”
The county is asking Newsom for millions of dollars in funding and authority over various aspects of the emerging lithium industry in the Imperial Valley, including permitting of projects and taxation.
Of course, a number of people representing environmental and social justice advocacy groups expressed concern and disappointment in the county’s plan, which they say lacked more input from the front-line communities like Calipatria, Niland and Bombay Beach.
But the commission ultimately overruled those concerns and did as the Imperial County Board of Supervisors had asked.
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Lithium Valley Commission’s Newest Member Misses Her First Meeting
She was supposed to be introduced at the commission’s meeting on Thursday but Alice Busching Reynolds was a no show.
Reynolds is the president of the California Public Utilities Commission, the state’s regulatory body that oversees utilities like power, natural gas and water.
She was recently added to the state’s blue-ribbon group tasked with studying the impacts of lithium in Southern California. No reason was given for her absence at the meeting. It is unclear whether she will make an appearance at any upcoming meetings.
Calipatria Endorses Imperial County’s Lithium Economic Plan
The city of Calipatria finally gave its seal of approval to the Imperial County’s Lithium Valley Economic Opportunity Investment Plan, with some caveats, the Calexico Chronicle reported this week. Previously, the city’s temporary mayor had raised some objections over the county’s plan to gain authority over the region’s emerging lithium industry.
A few key points to take away:
Calipatria and Niland are the towns nearest to where the lithium extraction will take place and will be most impacted by the development
In a letter supporting the county’s plan, Calipatria added a list of its own requests to ensure equitable distribution of benefits to Calipatria and Niland
Calipatria also requested to create its own Lithium Valley Disadvantaged Communities Economic Development Plan to outline exactly how the county, state, and federal government would benefit the Calipatria/Niland area
Eduardo Garcia Holds Meeting in Calipatria
California assemblyman Eduardo Garcia held an impromptu meeting with community members in Calipatria over the weekend. Garcia categorized it as a listening session to hear from residents most affected by the lithium extraction projects happening in their backyard.
Want to join the discussion on developments of the Lithium Valley? Join the Facebook Group and subscribe to this newsletter for a fresh batch of news every Friday.