US Secretary of Energy and Congressman Raul Ruiz listen to concerns from Salton Sea community members
Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D (CA-36) was joined by U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm for a visit to the Salton Sea Wednesday morning.
Together, Dr. Ruiz and Secretary Granholm lead a listening session with local community members and leaders to hear their firsthand experiences with public health and the environmental impacts of the Salton Sea.
Patricia Leal-Gutierrez is one of the Salton Sea community members invited to the meeting.
"But for community members, it really comes down to how are we going to ensure that lithium doesn't necessarily bring in additional layers of public health concerns," said Leal-Gutierrez. "Kids and children and the elderly are being impacted really bad by public health. What I mean by that is respiratory health issues. The Salton Sea continues to shrink, there's dust in the air."
The Salton Sea is California's largest lake and an ecological disaster. The lake has shrunk over the years, causing health issues for many residents in the eastern Coachella Valley. A 2019 USC study shows that 35% of elementary school children in the area have breathing issues.
Both Congressman Ruiz and Secretary Granholm also talked about the potential of the region to unlock clean energy sources and transition to a clean energy future with the lithium deposit underneath the Salton Sea. The Salton Sea is being considered for lithium extraction for electric car batteries.
The Salton Sea alone has the estimated potential to provide 40% of the lithium used by the world, but this is still a ways away from happening.
"The biggest takeaway I have is the importance of partnering with the community as we make these decisions about where lithium is to be extracted from and how it's to be extracted," said Granholm. "So this community could be at the front edge of making our nation energy independent and that's a really important mission."
Various community leaders from the Salton Sea area brought up several concerns regarding mental health, public health, pollution, and lack of resources and funding.
"There is no future plan without their incredible input, and what they would like to see in their own communities for their own children for their own families," said Ruiz.
Residents are asking to be included in the major decisions regarding the future of their home.
"Not only review the plan but really see is this really gonna benefit me in the right way," said Leal-Gutierrez.
Granholm said she'll take the concerns back to the White House and make sure any future developments align with what the community wants.
If you'd like to learn more about the Salton Sea, check out "Troubled Waters: The Salton Sea Project," a special four-part series in which News Channel 3 morning anchor Angela Chen takes a look at the history, ongoing issues, and the fight for the future of the Salton Sea.
Check Out Our Salton Sea Project section for more
There is also a special bonus part focusing specifically on the lithium deposits at the Salton Sea.
