Republicans said Thursday that the revelation that thousands of tons of lithium could be extracted annually from wastewater produced by hydraulic fracturing the Marcellus Shale has put advocates for a green energy future at a crossroads.
a University of Pittsburgh Study It has been suggested that processing by-products from natural gas production in Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale basin could meet nearly half of the lithium demand in the U.S. A typical electric vehicle (EV) requires about 18 pounds of lithium to power its battery; for Tesla, that number increases exponentially, according to reports.
Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, a Republican from Pennsylvania who represents much of the Marcellus Region, told Fox News he hopes to see a shift in opinion on the left.
“Right now, nearly 40 percent of the nation’s lithium needs are extracted here as a by-product of fracking,” he said. “I have every expectation that all Democrats will join Republicans in supporting domestic natural gas development.”
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“[There are] “In Pennsylvania alone, this industry supports 100,000 union jobs,” Reschenthaler said, criticizing progressive Democrats who oppose the fossil fuel speculation that has led to the reported lithium boom.
“Under the Biden administration, Republicans have fought to liberate America’s energy while Democrats have made us more dependent on China and other foreign adversaries with their disastrous green policies,” he said.
According to a study published in Nature Scientific Reports, estimated annual production of lithium from Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale, which stretches across large swaths of Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio and West Virginia, totals 1,278 tons.
One of the researchers, Justin McKee, told KDKA that in addition to providing a large amount of lithium, treating the wastewater in this way “could help save money.”[s] He was concerned about “the costs of remediation and treatment,” adding that similar lithium deposits exist in shale deposits in West Virginia and Ohio that could lead to an “economic boom.”
A senior Pennsylvania lawmaker expressed joy at the discovery and, like Reschenthaler, called on Democrats to come to the negotiating table.
State Sen. Doug Mastriano, a Republican candidate for governor in 2022, said common ground should be found on the prospects for hydraulic fracturing to produce both natural gas and electric battery components.
Doug Mastriano (Fox News)
“It is deeply ironic that the same climate extremists who oppose fossil fuel extraction under all circumstances rely on lithium for battery components needed for things like solar panels and electric vehicles, which often run on electricity generated from natural gas,” he said.
“Hydraulic fracturing may be the cleanest, most environmentally friendly way to produce natural gas energy. And we will extract the domestic lithium we need for the green future that our far-left colleagues support.”
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy, a Republican who has been battling with the Biden administration over adjusting strict energy regulations, said the lithium discovery in Pennsylvania could change the U.S. energy landscape, saying “what America needs most is more energy, not less.”
“We also need to store energy for when the wind isn’t blowing and the sun isn’t shining, so if we can develop lithium, which is essential for EVs and batteries, as a by-product of traditional oil and gas production, it’s a win-win for the United States,” he said.
Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey Jr., a Democrat, spoke positively about the development, emphasizing the potential multifaceted value of these deposits.
“This is an opportunity to source critical minerals domestically to support American jobs and manufacturing, while also reducing our reliance on countries like China,” Casey said.
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“We’re excited to learn more about the potential lithium can bring to Pennsylvania’s economy.”
Fox News Digital reached out to several other prominent Democrats, including Green New Deal co-sponsors Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Edward Markey (D-Mass.), for comment on their stance on sourcing EV parts from fossil-fuel-based sources, but did not receive a response.
Arizona Democratic Rep. Raul Grijalva told Fox News Digital that the lithium discovery was an “important development” but that “we have a moral obligation to move away from polluting fossil fuels and increase our levels of extraction both at home and abroad.”
“Sourcing lithium and other critical minerals from waste sources has the potential to reduce the environmental impact of the mineral supply chain, but it needs to be done responsibly. It is important to align environmental regulations with laws that protect local ecosystems and communities from the negative impacts of irresponsible mining and fossil fuel extraction,” Grijalva said.
Requests for comment were also sent to other concerned lawmakers, including Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio, whose state includes part of the Marcellus Mountains, and Senate Energy Committee Chairman Joe Manchin of Virginia.
Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) said technologies such as fracking have made the United States “the leading oil and natural gas producer in the world.”
“These technologies also appear to have the potential to mine large amounts of lithium, a mineral needed for electric vehicle batteries.”
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In addition to lithium exploration, some lawmakers over the past few years have called for the U.S. to step up exploration for rare earth minerals, which typically come from China or Africa and are also needed for green technology and communications.
In 2018, Rep. Lou Barletta (R-Pennsylvania) told Fox News that the Hazleton area, a former coal mining hub, needed to be better utilized and explored.
“Research has shown that Pennsylvania’s Appalachian coalfields contain the highest concentrations of rare earth elements (REEs) in the nation,” Barletta said.
“Researchers have discovered a way to extract rare earth elements from Appalachian coal by-products that is more environmentally friendly and requires less energy than traditional methods,” he wrote at the time.
The White House did not respond to a request for comment on the matter.
