That's the problem. No matter how bad you need it, if there isn't any money in it you won't get it unless the government creates a big corrupt money train.
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Posted on 04/23/2025 9:18:21 AM PDT by Red Badger
That's the problem. No matter how bad you need it, if there isn't any money in it you won't get it unless the government creates a big corrupt money train.
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It won’t take 4 years. It just requires the will to do it. In my career, I saw US imports of oil rise to 55% of its supply (at least), and when the price was right, the US became a net exporter (about a 7 million barrels of oil equivalent) per day increase. This is when the traditionalists at the Wall Street Journal said the Domestic Oil Industry was finished.. and we would be without oil within a decade.
Indeed damn it comes right after forethought.
So if it takes 5 years to ramp up refinement capacity and that’s too long? I’m glad US didn’t have that attitude during the Manhattan project.
Better to have this trade war out with China sooner than later.
Back in 1945, the United States built the largest building in the world in 15 months, in a swamp. We built the tallest building in the world, The Empire State Building, in 13 months.
In 1944, the US was producing an average of 96,000 military aircraft per year, including deliveries to the Soviet Union. One day, Ford Motor Company's Willow Run plant achieved a record of producing one B-24 Liberator bomber every 63 minutes.
And today the estimate is five years to dig a hole in the ground to process elements from the soil? This is pathetic. Even the French could do better than this.
The whole purpose of the EPA is not to protect the environment, but to make it impossible to do anything..............
Grok:
The Tesla lithium refinery in Robstown, Texas, near Corpus Christi, has made significant progress since breaking ground in May 2023. As of April 2025, the plant is operational and has begun producing refined lithium hydroxide, a critical component for electric vehicle batteries. Key milestones include:
Operational Status: Tesla announced in December 2024 that it fed raw materials through the kiln for the first time, marking the start of operations. By April 2025, the facility is officially producing battery-grade lithium hydroxide, making Tesla the first North American automaker to refine lithium in-house.
Production Capacity: The refinery is expected to produce enough lithium hydroxide for approximately 1 million electric vehicles annually, equivalent to about 50 GWh of battery-grade lithium per year.
Innovative Process: The plant uses a Tesla-patented, acid-free refining process, which is claimed to be more environmentally friendly, producing byproducts like sand and limestone that can be used in construction.
Construction and Investment: The facility, built on a 1,200-acre site, represents an investment exceeding $1 billion. Construction progressed rapidly, with significant updates reported throughout 2024, including the completion of key infrastructure like the rotating kiln and cooler.
Employment: The plant has created around 250 permanent jobs with average salaries of approximately $80,000, alongside nearly 1,000 construction jobs during its development.
Water Supply Challenges: A major hurdle has been securing a water supply, with the plant potentially requiring up to 8 million gallons per day. As of January 2025, Tesla was still negotiating a water contract with Nueces Water Supply Corp., though infrastructure deals have been approved to facilitate water access. The region's stage 3 drought status has raised concerns among locals about water availability.
Despite these advancements, the water supply issue remains a critical unresolved challenge that could impact full-scale production. The plant's rapid development, completed in just under two years, underscores Tesla's aggressive push to secure a domestic lithium supply chain, reducing reliance on foreign sources, particularly China.
I don’t know could we move one of the American fleets into Shanghai harbor?
It sure ain't CHINA!!
“A report by MacGregor states our coal deposits contain huge quantities of rare earths and other minerals.”
U of Texas
Coal ash.
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