State officials visit Imperial Valley to discuss Lithium Valley investments

CALIPATRIA, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - On May 13th, Governor Gavin Newsom unveiled a new budget proposal after announcing a $100 billion surplus. One idea includes more than $300 million for the Lithium Valley project and $1.5 billion in California Energy Commission Program funds.

Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia and Senator Ben Hueso were in Imperial Valley to deliver the news and provide a media briefing with local reaction.

Assemblymember Garcia said the purpose of this conversation was to discuss with community leaders on how they can take action in order to support this proposal.

Governor Newsom's new proposal states $80 million could help build a new San Diego State STEM education campus in Brawley.

The goal would be to ensure training for local lithium and energy industry career paths.

$5 million would also support the development of lithium recovery in the Salton Sea region, where the chemical element is set to be extracted and used to power things like electric vehicles.

"Again $400 million of direct investments, $1 billion of opportunities to build infrastructure. This isn't pocket change. This isn't the type of investment that you see every single day come from government," said Assemblymember Garcia.

Senator Hueso says the Imperial Valley has come a long way.

"This is years and years of work and we've been working with the community in all those years, so I think we have a good understanding but it doesn't mean we got it perfect so we came here to listen to the community about whether this is the right thing to do. Whether we should move forward and whether we need them to get this done," said Senator Hueso.  

Assemblymember Garcia says these funds will help Imperial Valley achieve renewable energy goals, energy reliability goals and develop the lithium industry to bring jobs to the people of Imperial County.

"The call to action today for the residents of Imperial County is to call in, to write letters of support for this proposal that will benefit Imperial County," Assemblymember Garcia said.

Senator Hueso says the next step is getting the legislature to approve the budget.

The budget must be passed by June 15th.