Republican Senators Press Defense Department on Lithium Support

Three Republican senators are asking the Defense Department to prioritize lithium investments in their states.

Sens. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) are asking David Lorch, the director of the Defense Department’s Office of Strategic Capital, to invest in lithium development in the Smackover Formation.

The Smackover Formation is a lithium brine deposit that stretches across Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas. The deposit has drawn investments from Exxon Mobil Corp., Standard Lithium Ltd., and Chevron Corp. Lithium is critical for most advanced weapons and drones. It’s also used in batteries for grid ...