Digging in

Thacker Pass, which would be the country’s largest lithium mine, is allowed to break ground, a judge ruled this week. The company still must look at whether or not it has valid mining rights for certain portions of the project.

Shares of Lithium Americas rose nearly 11% Tuesday after GM said it will invest $650 million in the upstart lithium producer and become its largest shareholder. The investment is one of the biggest steps taken by an automaker to secure supplies of lithium, a vital commodity for the batteries that power electric cars and smartphones.

On Thursday, the DOE gave a $2 billion loan to Nevada-based Redwood Materials Inc., a company that proposes to recycle throwaway batteries into high-value battery parts on a giant scale. Add to that the $817 million in competitive awards and loans that the Biden administration recently has given to the state’s mines, labs and factories, and it’s clear that this swing-state is becoming central to the future of the United States’ clean energy economy.

A conversation with the director of the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance.

Snow data from the Colorado River Basin Forecast Center shows a strong start for the region's water supplies, but heavy snow may get soaked up by dry soils before it can flow into Lake Powell and Lake Mead.

Utah leaders are under pressure to end water diversions and enforce tougher restrictions in order save the drying Great Salt Lake. A recent report predicted it will completely dry in five years.

A pragmatic analysis by a group of experts dubbed the Great Salt Lake Strike Team says action, however tectonic, is paramount.

Utah's Great Salt Lake is vanishing. As the water disappears, the lakebed is exposed and so is the potential for a health disaster.

Utah cities made up seven of the top 10 cities with the worst air quality in the U.S. on Saturday.

New research from the University of Colorado Boulder shows a concerning link between air pollution and brain development.

Water and air issues are bound together, and need swift action, the Editorial Board writes.

While hunters see the opportunity to hunt bears as a way to manage them and reduce conflict, wildlife advocates worry that handing grizzly bear regulation over to the states could slash grizzly numbers. They’re particularly worried in the wake of legislation targeted at grizzlies, wolves and other predators that’s been moving through state houses in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming.

Colorado’s avian flu outbreak has crossed over into more mammals, including a black bear in Huerfano County and a mountain lion in Gunnison County.

“We don’t want an avian H5N1 being adapted to mammals,” Juergen A. Richt, director of the Center of Excellence for Emerging and Zoonotic Animal Diseases, told Grist. “Obviously, the next level would be humans.”

To protect mule deer during harsh winter conditions this year, Utah DWR has banned the gathering of shed antlers until May 1.

The discovery of a pack of nine dogs harassing wildlife in the vicinity of where more than 40 cattle died south of Meeker in October casts further doubt on wolves being involved in the deaths.

A new book, “Wolfish,” attempts to shed light on how the species is a stand in for fear.

Data from the early pandemic years shows that more people migrated into Wyoming than left the state, and most came to the Equality State from Colorado. An influx of people from the Front Range means potential new businesses and additional workforce, but also puts a strain on the Capital City’s already stretched-thin housing market, experts say.

Idaho ranks No. 8 in domestic net migration, according to United States Postal Service change-of-address data.

“Only the wealthy are essentially buying homes,” said Lawrence Yun, chief economist at National Association of Realtors. “If this trend was to continue, that means something fundamentally is wrong with society.”

Congress and at least 11 state legislatures – including in Montana, Wyoming and Utah – are considering measures to address concerns about foreign land ownership.

New data shows that the Mountain West region led the nation with $26.5 billion in manufacturing construction spending in 2022, up from only $4.2 billion in 2017. It's an indicator of the significant economic changes afoot across the region.

Wilmot Collins fled a civil war in Liberia with big ideas about what America can be. But can it ever live up to what he imagined?

Montana is one of a handful U.S. states – along with Wyoming, Utah and North Dakota – considering legislation this year to keep more Native American children from enduring similar experiences by including provisions of the U.S. Indian Child Welfare Act in state law.

Proposed state holiday would take the place of Columbus Day.

The rundown on what scientists find actually works to protect forests and homes.

The disaster adds to a growing body of evidence on the need for better wildfire water safety guidelines.

The Jackson Hole community is moving toward educating visitors – rather than only marketing to them.

People dove into uphill skiing at the National Brotherhood of Skiers’ 50th annual summit in Vail, which promotes diversity in winter sports.

The 2020 measure mandated that utilities looking to close coal-fired power plants first try to retrofit the facilities with carbon capture technology. Black Hills Energy, however, announced last week that it is struggling to find bidders to take on the work at two of its facilities.

The Calumet Montana oil refinery in Great Falls has completed the multi-million dollar expansion project it began more than a year ago and is now poised to become the largest producer of sustainable aviation fuel in the United States, if not the world.

Supreme Court is expected to rule on case in which Idaho landowners challenged Biden administration’s definition of Waters of the United States.

“Alphabet Boys,” and other news behind the news in Colorado this week.