The Hidden Costs of Clean Energy: Lithium Mining, Fossil Fuel Reliance, and the Environmental Impact

Expose by Charles E Allen, Jr., Chief Editor      

     The push for renewable energy and electric vehicles (EVs) is often framed as an environmental imperative, but mounting evidence reveals significant ecological and social costs tied to lithium mining and battery production. These impacts, coupled with fossil fuel reliance in manufacturing, challenge the narrative that "clean energy" projects are universally beneficial.

     Lithium extraction devastates ecosystems through land degradation, water depletion, and pollution. In Australia’s Greenbushes mine, 350 hectares of native vegetation were cleared, threatening species like the black cockatoo1. Chile’s Salar de Atacama lithium operations consume 65% of the region’s water, exacerbating arid conditions and displacing Indigenous communities. Similarly, brine extraction in South America’s Lithium Triangle has led to toxic chemical leaks, poisoning water supplies and killing wildlife.

     The carbon footprint of battery production is staggering, accounting for 40–60% of an EV’s total manufacturing emissions. In Kansas, a battery factory forced a utility to prolong coal plant operations to meet energy demands. Meanwhile, 70% of global battery components are made in China, where coal powers 60% of electricity generation.

     While EVs produce no tailpipe emissions, their reliance on fossil fuels during production undermines their climate benefits. Mining and refining battery materials like cobalt and nickel emit high levels of greenhouse gases. For instance:

• Producing one ton of lithium releases 15 tons of CO₂.
• The Thacker Pass lithium project in Nevada will emit 152,713 tons of CO₂ annually while consuming 1.7 billion gallons of water.

     EVs require double the production emissions of internal combustion vehicles, with battery manufacturing alone exceeding seven tons of CO₂. Even renewable energy infrastructure, such as wind turbines and solar panels, depends on energy-intensive processes involving steel, glass, and rare earth metals.

     Less than 5% of lithium batteries are recycled due to high costs and technical challenges. Discarded batteries leak toxins like lead and cadmium into soil and groundwater. While companies like Volkswagen and Renault have initiated recycling programs, scalability remains unproven.

     Cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo involves child labor and "artisanal mining" that ravages forests and waterways. In Tibet, lithium mining contaminated the Liqi River, destroying fisheries and livestock. These practices highlight the ethical compromises behind "clean" energy transitions.

     Experts argue that improving recycling, adopting cobalt-free batteries, and using renewable energy in mining could mitigate impacts. However, current practices fall short, and the rush to meet decarbonization targets risks perpetuating ecological harm. As the National Renewable Energy Laboratory notes, life cycle assessments are critical to ensuring renewables live up to their green promise.

     While EVs and renewables are essential for reducing operational emissions, their production’s environmental and social costs demand urgent attention. Without systemic changes, the clean energy revolution risks replicating the harms it aims to solve

    "Clean Energy Projects" are a deception and yet another instance of the misinformation and lack of genuine, factual information presented to the public by manufacturers and mainstream media, comparable to the widespread misrepresentation seen during the COVID pandemic. Unfortunately, even when confronted with undeniable facts and evidence supporting this reality, there are still individuals who reject it and dismiss truthful media outlets as "conspiracy theorists." says Charles E. Allen, Jr, Chief Editor and CEO of Between Community News, a local non profit news outlet serving Walton County GA and surrounding communities.