Lithium, the alkali metal used in consumer technology, electric vehicle batteries and solar panels, is in abundant supply globally and in the U.S. However, this trend has since lost momentum and the economics of a potential gold rush are starting to develop. Lithium was once seen as a leading green energy economy in the US, but has since largely disappeared as EV demand has decreased and the federal government has withdrawn from funding initiatives it championed. The sole operational mine currently operates in Nevada. Despite a recent upturn in the market for lithium, there are significant barriers to scaling it quickly. The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas has noted that many companies have made painful cutbacks and are shifting towards new opportunities in the sector.