Signal Salton Sea geothermal lithium project received a stated $1.4 billion federal loan in February 2026

Summary

The report presents EnergySource Minerals' geothermal plant at California's Salton Sea as a glimpse of where direct lithium extraction could go next. The facility produces electricity from superheated geothermal brine. Before that brine is returned underground, the plant pulls lithium out of it, combining power generation and mineral recovery in one process. According to the report, the project secured a $1.4 billion federal loan in February 2026 to reach full commercial scale. The case illustrates how direct extraction can use sources such as geothermal fluids that conventional evaporation ponds cannot handle. It also fits the outlook's view that US policy support offers a limited window for domestic critical mineral supply chains.