Salton Sea: White Gold in the California Desert

In 1905, Colorado River floodwaters created one of the largest lakes in the United States: the Salton Sea. In this episode, we explore the future of energy production, how boom and bust cycles affect cities and communities, and the often overlooked environmental considerations that roil the development of green infrastructure.

Show Notes

In 1905, Colorado River floodwaters created one of the largest lakes in the United States: the Salton Sea.

Now, more than 100 years later, the lake is shrinking, and has become one of the most polluted bodies of water in the US. But the area is also poised to become the largest lithium mine in the country—to be used by GM, Tesla, and Ford to manufacture their electric vehicles. Still, there’s an inherent tension between mining heavy metals—often a dirty, high-pollution process, for environmentally beneficial purposes. 

In this episode, we explore the future of energy production, how boom and bust cycles affect cities and communities, and the often overlooked environmental considerations that roil the development of green infrastructure.

Special thanks to Donna Burns Kennedy, Audrey Carleton, Michael McKibben, and Roy Durantes.

For a transcript of this episode, visit press.stripe.com/salton-sea-transcript
For more on Beneath the Surface, visit press.stripe.com/beneath-the-surface
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What is Beneath the Surface: An Infrastructure Podcast?

Infrastructure is—finally—having its moment. From transit systems to supply chains, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and others are evaluating whether our civic infrastructure is up to the task of supporting a growing—and warming—globe.

In each episode of Beneath the Surface, we explore some of the most complicated challenges facing our world, and talk to the people who are rolling up their sleeves to build solutions.

Find out more about Stripe Press: https://press.stripe.com