As U.S. Gears Up for EVs, Nevada Registers 17,000 Lithium Mining Claims

Carbon-free steel-making startup Electra secures $85 mn to develop and scale electro-chemical tech that refines iron ore into pure iron at temps of 140°F; U.S. IRA subsidies luring new onshore battery investments; Nevada reports over 17,375 lithium mining claims through Aug 2022; NREL estimates offshore wind will support between 15,000 and 58,000 full-time jobs from 2024 to 2030; Rhode Island Energy issues RFP for 600 – 1,000 MW of offshore wind, w/bids due 2/1/23; BOEM to hold offshore wind lease sale on 12/6 for 373,000 acres off central and northern CA; Dominion Energy proposes dozens of new solar and energy storage projects totaling over 800 MW; VDL Bus & Coach and German energy co RWE will convert 43 aging bus batteries into energy storage to support 7.5 MW installation at RWE'S power plant in Holland; Australia state of Victoria sets the goal of 95% renewables by 2035, w/investment of $U.S. 630 million for 4.5 GW of renewable projects. Also, upping its 2030 goal from 50% to 65%; Limited water availability may hamstring global green hydrogen development since estimated 85% of planned projects are in areas with water stress

1) Carbon-free steel-making startup Electra nails $85 mn in financing to develop and scale zero emissions tech that electrochemically refines iron ore into pure iron at temps of 140°F (most of steel is made at > 2,912°F)

2) US IRA subsidies w/domestic content requirement already begin to attract new domestic battery investments. Battery factory output to double by 2024 and increase up to 10x (1000 GWh) by 2030.

3) Nevada registers over estimated 17,000 lithium mining claims through August 2022.

4) The National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimates offshore wind industry will support between 15 and 58,000 full-time jobs from 2024 to 2030 - depending on domestic content - up from fewer than 1000 posts today.

5) Main RI electric utility, Rhode Island Energy posts RFP for 600 – 1,000 MW of offshore wind w/bids due on Feb 1, 2023.

6) U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to hold an offshore wind energy lease sale on 12/6 for 373,000 acres located on outer Continental Shelf off central and northern CA, with up to 4,500 MW of floating wind production.

7) Dominion Energy seeks approval for nearly two dozen new solar and energy storage projects totaling over 800 MW, to be completed betw 2023 and 2025.

8) VDL Bus & Coach and German energy co RWE will convert 43 aging bus batteries into 75.5 MW energy storage project at RWE power plant in Netherlands.

9) Australia state of Victoria sets a goal of 95% renewables by 2035, w/investment of about $U.S. 630 million US to develop 4.5 GW of renewable projects. Victoria also increasing 2030 goal from 50% to 65%.

10) Water availability may hinder global green hydrogen development, w/estimated 85% of planned facilities in areas w/medium to high water stress.