Supervisors updated on coming lithium projects

EL CENTRO – The county remains optimistic regarding the potential economic opportunities that could be derived from local production, purification and extraction of lithium.

Imperial Valley Economic Development Corp. President and CEO Tim Kelley told the board of supervisors Tuesday five projects totaling $2.5 billion are ready to begin. The presentation was a follow-up to the one he made about a month ago.

He indicated the five projects will bring thousands of jobs to the county, but he did not say who the players are.

Kelley conceded there are a lot of challenges to move these projects forward.

Several years ago a developer’s handbook was developed for companies interested in lithium that put all of the processes of the different agencies, including the county and the Imperial Irrigation District, into one document.

Kelley said the developers believed the process was very difficult, expensive and cumbersome.

“Most people we found did not know about the process,” he said.

The IVEDC revisited the handbook and, after talking to developers, formulated a survey to find out what the concerns were. Some of the questionnaires have been returned, Kelley said, but he wants to have more back before releasing them.

He said the developers feel the planning department is professional and knowledgeable, but understaffed.

“If you can’t permit a lithium plant, you can’t permit a manufacturing plant,” Kelley said.

On a scale of one to five, the planning department and environmental department were given a score of four by the developers. The Imperial Fire Department received a score of five, the Air Control and Pollution District had a 4.5, while the agricultural commissioner’s office received a three, which Kelley speculated was due to slow response.

“We have some more work to do, but we are pretty close to completion, but I don’t think right now it’s fair to have a whole assessment,” Kelley said.

Supervisor Jesus Eduardo Escobar said he was a little confused, as the agenda item mentioned lithium. While Kelley began his presentation talking about lithium he pivoted and started talking about all manufacturing.

Escobar asked for the presentation to be focused on lithium.

Kelley said a lot depends on who owns the land where lithium could be extracted, and pointed out the IID owns a lot of land with lithium.

He said when talking about something that could bring thousands of jobs should be open to everyone to promote it.

“We should be engaged in what is coming to the county,” he said.