In the southeastern corner of California lies the Salton Sea, a vast, shrinking body of water that might just be the key to the world’s future in clean energy. According to a recent U.S. Department of Energy report, this area holds a treasure trove of lithium—enough to power over 375 million electric vehicle (EV) batteries. This is more than the total number of vehicles currently on U.S. roads, positioning the region as a potential powerhouse in the global lithium market. Lithium is crucial for the production of rechargeable batteries used in everything from electric cars to smartphones. With …