North Carolina regulators Monday signed off on a permit for a large lithium project on the outskirts of Charlotte, but local officials there say plenty of regulatory hurdles and environmental concerns remain.
Piedmont Lithium in a release revealed that the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality has approved a permit for the company to construct, operate and reclaim a lithium mine in Gaston County.
Piedmont said the permit approval will be conditioned on the company posting a $1 million reclamation bond. The state agency did not immediately respond when asked about conditions for the permit.
North Carolina’s move to advance the project arrives as the demand for lithium, a key ingredient in lithium-ion batteries needed to power electric vehicles, smartphones and laptops, is slated to grow.
