The US government has approved the construction of a massive new lithium mine in Nevada as part of a strategy to break China’s dominance over the supply chain of critical minerals used in EVs.

The U.S. Interior Department on Thursday gave final approval to Ioneer' s Rhyolite Ridge lithium mine in Nevada, the first domestic source of the battery metal to be permitted by President Joe Biden's administration and one that will become a key supplier to Ford and other electric vehicle manufacturers.

Some environmentalists worry the Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron Project could drive a rare wildflower to extinction, highlighting the trade-offs of the energy transition.