Overview

• Comite Civico del Valle and Earthworks filed a Sept. 11 appeal asking the Fourth District Court of Appeal to revive a 2024 claim that a judge dismissed earlier this year.
• The filing argues the project’s environmental report fails to adequately assess water demand, air quality risks, hazardous materials, plus tribal cultural resources.
• The nonprofits say they support lithium production and have not sought injunctions, framing the lawsuit as a push for stronger protections rather than a bid to halt clean energy.
• The groups also issued a report seeking a Lithium Valley joint powers authority, a local advisory commission, changes to the state lithium excise tax distribution, plus a new mitigation fee, noting Bombay Beach would receive $8,631 under the current formula while larger cities get six-figure sums.
• Controlled Thermal Resources calls the appeal frivolous and says delays have shifted billions in investment to states like Nevada, Utah, Texas, plus Arkansas, as experts question unproven 'closed loop' claims and potential high fresh-water use tied to direct lithium extraction.