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The Salton Sea is a haven for wildlife, a repository of critical minerals, and the site of some of the worst environmental and economic conditions in California.

The contrast between its natural riches and its impoverished population has sharpened as companies seek to mine vast deposits of lithium, a mineral used to make batteries for electric cars, computers and cellphones.

性视界传媒淭oday, the Salton Sea region stands at a critical juncture with a chance to become a major domestic supplier of lithium,性视界传媒� state Sen. Steve Padilla, who represents parts of Riverside, Imperial and San Diego counties, recently told the Senate Committee on Business, Professions and Economic Development.

The Chula Vista Democrat wants to give the region a bigger say in how it grows amid the projected lithium boom. His bill, SB 534, would create a 性视界传媒済reen empowerment zone性视界传媒� around the sea that would govern how to use public money, invest in local communities, and support the transition to a renewable energy economy.

It would be run by a board of directors with representatives from Imperial and Riverside Counties, local cities, tribal members, energy experts with the University of California, and large, private employers.

Padilla性视界传媒檚 proposal is modeled after a similar program for the Contra Costa waterfront, which aimed to build on an existing workforce in the renewable energy sector. That program was due to expire in 2028, but two northern California lawmakers are proposing to extend it to 2040 to blunt the economic impact of the Marathon oil refinery closure in Martinez.

In contrast, the Salton Sea proposal in Southern California aims to position an emerging renewable energy industry for rapid growth and ensure that local residents get a piece of the pie.

Development of lithium mining and other energy projects 性视界传媒渃ould drive regional prosperity, create high-paying jobs, support a well-articulated workforce,性视界传媒� and boost industry in the desert, Padilla said.

But local advocates say there性视界传媒檚 a risk that neighboring communities could be left behind. Most of the region faces poor air quality, high unemployment, an untrained workforce and limited health care access.

The region性视界传媒檚 150,000 inhabitants have also been split along jurisdictional lines. Imperial County communities are lumped in with San Diego, while the Coachella Valley and eastern Riverside County areas are attached to the Inland Empire. But those southeastern desert areas 性视界传媒� with low-income, rural, largely Spanish-speaking communities 性视界传媒� have more in common with each other than with their respective urban counterparts, the bill notes. Gov. Gavin Newsom last year vetoed a bill that would have created an economic hub similar to SB 534 to help stitch these areas together.

Padilla acknowledged that the region has often suffered disappointment through 性视界传媒渕ajor boom and bust cycles, economic promises that have often failed to deliver sustainable quality of life improvements to the residents and local communities.性视界传媒�

Salton Sea residents and local organizations want to make sure they don性视界传媒檛 miss out on the benefits of what state leaders hail as a 性视界传媒渨hite gold性视界传媒� rush in the region.

Aydee Palomino, an environmental justice project manager with the nonprofit Alianza Coachella Valley, a co-sponsor of Padilla性视界传媒檚 bill, said a green empowerment zone would help local agencies collaborate on funding applications and projects and provide 性视界传媒渁 structured way to ensure everyone has a seat at the table, shares responsibilities, and advances regional priorities,性视界传媒� she said.

Last year he introduced legislation to create the Salton Sea Conservancy, which will improve habitat around the inland sea, with water features for shorebirds and revegetation projects along its banks. Nearly half a billion dollars in state and federal funds is devoted to that effort.