The Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council has added two major U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) lithium processing projects—Kings Mountain and Liberty Owl—to the Federal Permitting Dashboard. This move aims to improve transparency and expedite federal review processes, supporting the development of domestic critical mineral supply chains.

The projects are part of a broader strategy to reduce the United States’ reliance on foreign sources of lithium, particularly China, which currently controls around 70% of the global lithium processing market.

The Kings Mountain project in North Carolina, owned by Albemarle Corporation, will receive a USD 150 million award from DOE’s Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC). The funding will support construction of a commercial-scale facility capable of producing 350,000 tons per year of lithium oxide concentrate.

The Liberty Owl project, led by TerraVolta in the Texarkana region, will receive USD 225 million to build a lithium extraction and refining facility. The plant will process lithium from domestic brine resources in the Smackover formation, aiming to produce battery-grade lithium for the growing electric vehicle and energy storage sectors.

National and Economic Significance

Both projects are expected to bolster U.S. energy independence by building secure, domestic supply chains for critical minerals. The inclusion of the projects in the permitting dashboard will provide clear timelines and accountability, expediting federal reviews.

According to DOE, the initiative supports President Trump’s policy priorities to strengthen domestic energy production and reduce foreign dependency in strategic resource sectors.

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