It is the second largest geothermal field[clarification needed] in the United States after The Geysers in Northern California.

[4] The California Energy Commission estimates the Salton Sea might produce 600k metric tons of lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) per year,[5] of a reserve of 3.4 million tonnes.

[6] In 2016, the Australian firm Controlled Thermal Resources (CTR) announced plans to build a 140 MW geothermal power plant and a lithium extraction facility capable of producing 15,000 tons (13,600 tonnes) by 2023 and 75,000 tons (68,000 tonnes) by 2027.

The company hopes to create a major new domestic source of the mineral, which is a key ingredient used in batteries for electric cars and energy storage.

[7][8] General Motors announced a strategic partnership with CTR in 2021 to secure a local supply of lithium.