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The administration announced a $100 million grant to Lilac Solutions to extract lithium from Utah's Great Salt Lake.

The administration announced a $100 million grant to Lilac Solutions to construct a large-scale lithium extraction operation on the north arm of the Great Salt Lake. This funding is part of a broader $500 million distribution across seven national projects aimed at securing domestic critical minerals and reducing reliance on foreign sources, particularly China. Raef Sully, CEO of Lilac Solutions, stated that the company's unique process uses manufactured beads to pull lithium from brackish water, which is then returned to the lake. This method differs from traditional evaporative ponds or hard rock mining. Deputy Energy Secretary James Danly noted that Utah holds 80% of the nation's listed critical minerals, making it a primary hub for the federal government's strategy to onshore extraction and processing. The project aligns with President Trump's 'Unleashing American Energy' executive order. Additionally, the administration announced over $2 billion in mining projects and $180 million for workforce investment during a recent roundtable. These actions aim to build a resilient domestic supply chain for technology, electric vehicles, and defense.

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