Beneath California's Salton Sea lies an estimated $500 billion worth of lithium that Governor Gavin Newsom has dubbed the 'Saudi Arabia of lithium.' The vast reserve could power smartphones, electric cars, and electricity grids while bringing economic revitalization to one of America's most impoverished regions. Three companies are working to extract the metal from the hot, mineral-rich brine below the shrinking lake.

But residents remain skeptical after decades of broken promises. The Salton Sea is already an environmental disaster zone, shrinking and spewing pesticide-laden dust across Imperial County. Extracting lithium requires fresh water, raising concerns about depleting scarce regional resources. Environmental groups have sued to slow extraction, while locals fear industrial disruption will create more air pollution. Many residents say they've been burned before by geothermal and solar industries that failed to deliver promised economic benefits.

The United States currently imports nearly all its lithium from South America, Australia, and China, creating a national security concern. The Salton Sea region holds one of the world's largest lithium reserves, potentially meeting national demand for decades. A RAND Corporation report estimates lithium operations could create 1,000 construction jobs and 700 permanent positions, with each long-term job generating two additional positions in retail and other industries.