Nevada activists push back against lithium mining near Ash Meadows
Two conservationists in Nevada are fighting a proposed lithium mine near Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, arguing that extracting the key battery material for renewable energy could destroy fragile desert ecosystems.
Meg Bernhard reports for The New York Times Magazine.
In short:
- Patrick Donnelly and Naomi Fraga oppose a lithium-mining project near Ash Meadows, a biodiverse wetland home to dozens of endangered species.
- Lithium is essential for battery storage in renewable energy, but its extraction can harm water sources and ecosystems, sparking debate over environmental trade-offs.
- The Biden administration issued a temporary mining ban near Ash Meadows, but the project’s future remains uncertain as political leadership shifts.
Key quote:
"Just because we need something doesn’t mean we have to do it at all costs and destroy everything to get it."
— Naomi Fraga, director of conservation programs at the California Botanic Garden
Why this matters:
Lithium is critical for the clean-energy transition, but mining it can devastate ecosystems. Without clear regulations, conservationists fear unchecked resource extraction could cause irreversible damage to biodiversity. The debate over Ash Meadows highlights broader tensions between climate action and environmental preservation.
