 They're going to need every piece of lithium they can get. Frank Ruiz works for the California Audubon Society and sits on the commission overseeing the mining of lithium. We don't completely understand the impact of the lithium industry. No industry is 100% free of environmental impacts. Ruiz says lithium could be liquid gold for a region facing some of the highest poverty rates in the state. For now, it's unclear if lithium is a lifeline or a threat.