Evans in 2021. Photo: Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
The CEO developing the country's largest lithium deposit says the demand for minerals makes the case for a permitting overhaul.
Why it matters: In his speech to Congress on Tuesday night, President Trump pledged to "take historic action to dramatically expand production of critical minerals and rare earths" in the United States.
Driving the news: Unconstrained litigation and lengthy agency timelines to issue a record of decision could slow investment to build a U.S. minerals supply chain, Jonathan Evans, head of Lithium Americas, told Axios.
- "We're actually supporting the administration's message to put a world-class critical minerals project in place," Evans said.
- But legal challenges "dissuade private sector investment and just slow things down so we can't get anything done," Evans said.
- Viable projects, he said, are "deemed too risky if there's an open door on litigation."
Context: Evans is an influential voice to both sides.
- The Trump administration originally permitted his company's project, Thacker Pass, in 2021.
- Then-President Biden's DOJ defended it in court and his DOE backed a loan.
Zoom in: Evans will speak Thursday at a policy summit hosted by Sen. Rick Scott.
- The summit — with Scott, Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chair Mike Lee, and Sen. Dan Sullivan — will focus on weaning the U.S. off foreign adversaries and spurring domestic production of critical minerals.
- Despite the Trump administration's aversion to EV incentives, lithium battery demand will continue to grow from the defense industry, power grid storage and electrified transportation, Evans said.
Case in point: Thacker Pass, in northern Nevada, waited for 19 months to get a BLM record of decision, which environmental groups and tribes then challenged in court for more than two years.
- The company won the case and the project is now under construction, aiming to begin production by late 2026.
