A delegation of Imperial County leaders participated in an event exploring the rise of the United States lithium-ion battery economy.

The two-day event, Benchmarks Giga + USA, in Washington, D.C., heard from Congressman Raul Ruiz, Imperial County Supervisors Jesus Eduardo Escobar and Ryan Kelley, on a panel moderated by Bari Bean, Deputy CEO of Natural Resources and Lithium Ombudsman for the County of Imperial. The panel was titled, " Building a Vertically Integrated Lithium Ecosystem". Congressman Ruiz said, " ..the event is yet another indicator that we have an incredible opportunity with Lithium Valley. The Department of Energy has found the region could produce enough lithium to power millions of electric vehicles, which would drive the transition to a clean energy economy and create good paying jobs in the Imperial Valley".