Imperial Irrigation District Director James Hanks has been appointed to the state's Lithium Valley Commission.

The Lithium Valley Commission is tasked with delivering a report to the State Legislature that analyzes opportunities for lithium extraction from geothermal brine and increased geothermal development at the Salton Sea. Hanks appointment was approved Wednesday by the California Energy Commission. Hanks said , " I am proud to represent the IID on the Lithium Valley Commission. The recovery of lithium from geothermal brine is an exciting and significant new opportunity for this industry. It has the potential to unleash millions of dollars in new economic infrastructure development and job creation at the local and regional level." 

The Lithium Valley Commission was created after the passage of AB1657 authored by Assemblyman Eduardo Garcia. The law requires the California Energy Commission to convene a blue ribbon commission on lithium extraction and report it's findings and recommendations to the Legislature.