Since China controls much of the battery refining and production capabilities, U.S. players could find themselves on the short end, according to Steve Christensen, executive director of the Responsible Battery Coalition, a Wisconsin-based group advocating for sustainable battery use and recycling.
“China has proven itself to be an unreliable partner for exporting refined and processed materials,” he said. “Continuing to rely on China for lithium or any other necessary material (that’s part of the) supply chain is a risky proposition.”
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One area in which the administration has helped the industry, Christensen said, is lithium production. Federal regulators have fast-tracked permitting for projects in Nevada and Oregon, but he feels more could be done.
“Many other projects in North Carolina, Arkansas, Pennsylvania and other states across the country could similarly help solve this problem,” he said. “However, without a strong, purposeful permitting reform agenda—a cornerstone of the administration’s efforts since coming into office—these resources could remain untapped.”
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Added Christensen: “We are optimistic that future demand for lithium can be met, and there is great potential for recyclers to process the increasingly large number of lithium-ion batteries in circulation.”
Read the full piece, In Need of a Charge, on Resource Recycling.
