Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania’s shale gas boom also has a key ingredient for electric vehicles

Published

8 months ago

May 21, 2024

Pennsylvania’s shale gas boom also has a key ingredient for electric vehicles

Mackey’s research, published recently in Nature Scientific Reports, says the brine water that lies deep within the Marcellus Shale — and comes to the surface during gas production — could provide 38–40% of the current domestic demand for lithium, which is estimated at 3,000 metric tons a year. But that demand is expected to jump to 340,000 metric tons by 2032.

Lithium is now considered one of the most essential components for the energy transition. Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries are light and able to store a lot of energy. They power electric vehicles, computers, iPhones and large battery storage facilities.

“So, we’re going to need a lot of lithium if we’re going to decarbonize all of these things,” Mackey said.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law requires electric vehicle batteries to use domestically sourced raw materials by 2030. The law’s aim was to reduce dependency on Chinese sources of lithium and will likely increase the domestic demand. The Biden administration also recently imposed steep tariffs on electric batteries and vehicles coming from China.

More than half of the global supply of lithium is extracted from subsurface brine deposits in Chile and Argentina’s Atacama Desert, then shipped to China to be processed into lithium carbonate or lithium hydroxide, which is then used to make lithium-ion batteries.

David Boutt, a hydrogeologist and professor at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, who was not involved in the study, said the analysis done shows the Marcellus Shale could be a large source of lithium.

“These are very high lithium concentrations. And some of them are approaching concentrations of lithium that we see in [South America],” said Boutt, who researches lithium systems in the U.S., Canada and South America. He said in South America, there are concerns about extracting too much water in an arid landscape.

“So having a source of lithium in what is essentially a waste product is a really important step,” he said. “I think how we get [enough supply] is having multiple sources of lithium that have low-carbon and low-water footprints.”

But extracting the lithium from the wastewater is not easy, Boutt said, and would require a large amount of energy.

While the U.S. has very little current domestic supply, it does have the world’s first lithium mine in Nevada. The Silver Peak mine extracts lithium using hard-rock mining, which is energy and water-intensive. The Department of Energy just agreed to a $2.26 billion loan to help jump-start another lithium mine in Thacker Pass, Nevada.

A new domestic source of lithium from brine is the Smackover Formation of Arkansas, operated by Standard Lithium. Exxon Mobil has invested heavily in lithium production in that formation.

But questions remain on the economic feasibility of extracting lithium from Marcellus Shale wastewater.

One company that operates in the Marcellus Shale has already begun developing a process to extract lithium from the wastewater. Eureka Resources reported back in July that it “extracted 97% pure lithium carbonate from oil and natural gas brine from production activities with up to a 90% recovery rate.”

The company is based in Williamsport and operates two wastewater treatment facilities in Pennsylvania. It says it uses a closed loop system that combines “physical and chemical treatment, concentration and crystallization,” similar to the process it uses to extract and sell salts, such as sodium chloride and calcium chloride. In the press release, it said it expects to be selling lithium within two years.

But Boutt said it’s unlikely that oil and gas companies are going to rush to sell lithium. “There’s a lot of work that goes into making battery-grade lithium,” he said.

And once the lithium is extracted, there is still the issue of disposal of the remaining wastewater that could still contain toxic substances, whether it gets used to frack another well or if it gets shipped off to a deep injection well for disposal.

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Pennsylvania

Final Call Snowfall Forecast for Sunday’s Snowstorm in Pennsylvania

Published

4 hours ago

January 18, 2025

Press Room

Final Call Snowfall Forecast for Sunday’s Snowstorm in Pennsylvania

Winter Storm Warnings and Winter Weather Advisories have been issued by the NWS ahead of our short, but potent snowstorm that is on tap for Sunday. Travel will be dangerous Sunday afternoon and evening in most of the state, and it’ll be one of those days to stay inside and watch a snowy Eagles playoff game.

On the graphic below, you will also see Extreme Cold Watches in Western and Northern PA, issued for Monday to Thursday. There is a strong chance schools will be closed for multiple days this coming week due to the threat of frostbite. We will have those details on Sunday!

Snowstorm Timing

Light snow will move into Southern PA from SW to NE on Sunday morning between 9 – 11 AM. The leading edge of snow will push northeast towards I-80 around lunchtime, meanwhile snow will become heavy in Southern and Eastern Pennsylvania.

Heavy snow will continue generally along and east of the I-81 corridor through Sunday afternoon, while light to moderate snow falls near I-99 and Route 15 in Northern PA. As we head into the evening, snow will lighten up from SW to NE and begin to move out.

This will be a fluffy snow, which means it won’t be too exhausting to shovel. However it also means as winds kick up behind the storm for the next few days, snow drifts over roadways will be a concern along with the life-threatening cold temperatures.

Below are timing charts for this storm. If you do not see your location, please find the nearest city or area.

Below is the latest future radar from the Hi-Res Rapid Refresh Model as of Saturday evening, lining up with the timing shown above. You will also notice a small chance of mixing in Philadelphia, as well as lake effect snow in NWPA.

Area A: Snowfall accumulation of 6 – 8″ expected. Snow-covered roads will cause dangerous travel conditions soon after snow begins through early Monday morning.

Area B: Snowfall accumulation of 4 – 6″ anticipated. Roads will become snow-covered, making travel inadvisable after snow starts into early Monday AM.

Area C: Snowfall accumulation of 2 – 4″ expected. Snow-covered roads will lead to very poor travel conditions.

Area D: Snowfall accumulation of 1 – 2″ anticipated. Secondary roads may be covered by snow, causing slippery travel.

Be sure to share this forecast with friends and family!

More details on the harsh cold next week will be posted Sunday.

Final Call Snowfall Forecast for Sunday’s Snowstorm in Pennsylvania

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Pennsylvania

Here’s where 6-8 inches of snow could dump on central Pa. this weekend: forecasters

Published

12 hours ago

January 18, 2025

Press Room

Here’s where 6-8 inches of snow could dump on central Pa. this weekend: forecasters

Forecasters with the National Weather Service (NWS) are calling for between 6 to 8 inches of snow in parts of central Pennsylvania this Sunday after unusually warm temperatures cover the region Saturday.

High temperatures in Harrisburg, York, Lancaster, Chambersburg and the surrounding areas are expected to be in the low to mid-40s Saturday, before dropping below freezing in the evening, bringing a possibility of rain and snow to the region.

Srly winds will provide a break from the cold and snow of recent nights. High temp on Saturday will rise above freezing! The break will be short lived, however, as a cold front pushes through central PA late Saturday and be accompanied by snow and rain. Yes, rain, for some! pic.twitter.com/CoBABWWV5K
— NWS State College (@NWSStateCollege) January 18, 2025

Several counties — including Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Perry, Lebanon, Adams, York and Lancaster — are under a winter storm watch from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday, the NWS said.

Harrisburg’s snow should start after 10 a.m. Sunday, with accumulations up to 8 inches possible. Winds will also be gusting up to 20 miles per hour Sunday.

A quick-hitting and potentially significant snowstorm is expected on Sunday, but there remains considerable uncertainty in where the heaviest snowfall will occur. A multi-day period of dangerously cold temperatures and wind chills will follow Sun night thru Wed. pic.twitter.com/QlhhGd1m72
— NWS State College (@NWSStateCollege) January 18, 2025

The NWS said Harrisburg, York and Lancaster will receive between 6 and 8 inches of snow Sunday, while municipalities further west and north — including Chambersburg, Mifflintown and Selinsgrove — should see between 4 and 6 inches.

Forecasters also predicted this weekend’s snowstorm to be “quick-hitting” and “potentially significant” with dangerously cold temperatures and sub-zero wind chills in the following days.

“We expect cold weather this time of year in Pennsylvania, but the extreme cold and windchills that we’re going to see next week mean we all need to make sure that our families and homes are ready for it,” said Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) Director Randy Padfield. “PEMA will be working with county partners to make sure they have the resources they need to keep people safe throughout this cold snap.”

According to the National Weather Service, January 2018 is the last time Pennsylvania experienced an extended period of frigid temperatures and dangerous wind chills.

Parts of north-central Pennsylvania are not expected to be hit quite as hard, with cities like Warren, Bradford, Coudersport, Emporium and Wellsboro forecast to receive between 1 and 2 inches of snow by 7 p.m. Sunday.

By Monday, forecasters are calling for frigid temperatures and severe wind chills throughout central Pennsylvania. Harrisburg’s high temperatures for Monday and Tuesday are 19 and 17 respectively, while conditions plummet to around 1 degree both nights.

Governor Josh Shapiro’s office released a statement Friday urging Pennsylvanians to prepare for the winter weather and frequently check forecasts ahead of the storm. The statement also included tips for recognizing cold-related health concerns:

Hypothermia causes shivering, exhaustion, confusion, memory loss, slurred speech or drowsiness in adults and bright red, cold skin and very low energy in babies.
Frostbite causes a loss of feeling and color in affected areas, and symptoms include a white or grayish-yellow area of skin, numbness or skin that feels unusually firm or waxy.

Staying indoors is the easiest way to avoid cold-related health issues, but if you must go outside consider the following:

Make outdoor trips brief and dress warm in layers
Cover your ears, head, mouth and face
Never ignore shivering – it’s your body’s way of saying you’re losing heat and it’s time to warm back up

Older adults often make less body heat than younger people due to slower metabolisms and less physical activity. Anyone over 65 is recommended to regularly check the temperature in their homes during this weekend and next week.

PennDOT wants to remind Pennsylvanians that driving during winter weather can be dangerous. If you do hit the road, it is important to prepare beforehand.

Make sure your vehicle has a full tank of gas, safe tires, a full reservoir of windshield wiper fluid and working windshield wipers. PennDOT also recommends having food, water, warm clothing/blankets and any other necessary items — such as medications or baby/pet supplies — in your vehicle if you choose to travel.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) and UGI Utilities issued statements with tips and tricks ahead of the winter storm, which is expected to drive up demand for electricity and natural gas.

The PUC included the following advice:

Adjust your thermostat – Lowering the thermostat a few degrees, especially during times you are away or asleep, can significantly reduce energy consumption
Seal leaks and drafts – Use weather stripping, caulk, or door sweeps to block cold drafts and keep warm air indoors
Use natural sunlight – Open curtains and blinds on sunny days to let in warmth and close them at night to retain heat
Bundle up indoors – Dress in layers and use extra blankets to stay warm without turning up the heat excessively
Maintain heating systems – Change furnace filters regularly and schedule maintenance if possible, ensuring systems run efficiently
Unplug and power down – Turn off lights and unplug electronics when not in use to conserve electricity

Additional tips from UGI include never using a gas-powered range or oven to heat a home, clearing snow and ice from meters and vents by hand or with a broom, allowing faucets to drip slightly to prevent freezing and opening cabinet doors to warm exposed pipes.

Anyone using portable heaters should follow the manufacturer’s safety instructions, including plugging the heater directly into a wall outlet, not an extension cord or power strip.

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