Why this matters
As companies set their sights on the vast stores of lithium under the Salton Sea, locals hope the burgeoning industry will provide long needed jobs.
Students hoping to gain skills to prepare them for jobs in the geothermal and lithium industries now have a new resource: San Diego State University’s sciences and engineering laboratories in Imperial Valley.
Leaders gathered for a grand opening ceremony on Monday in Brawley, according to a university press release, to celebrate a project three years in the making and backed by $80 million in state funds procured by former State Sen. Ben Hueso and State Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia.
University officials say the campus is designed to meet science, technology, engineering and mathematics demands of Lithium Valley, the name given to the land south of the Salton Sea slotted for lithium extraction.
“This facility represents more than just new classrooms and laboratories,” said SDSU President Adela de la Torre in the announcement. “It embodies our commitment to driving forward energy innovation, expanding access to education, and investing in the people and the heart of the Imperial Valley.”
Since companies have been racing to develop the infrastructure to capitalize on the vast stores of lithium under the Salton Sea, community members and local advocates have been raising their voices over how they may partake in the potential boom of the lithium industry.
The metal, a key ingredient in electric batteries, continues to be in high demand as the U.S. has declared a national energy emergency, prioritizing lithium as a critical mineral with the hopes of increasing domestic production. Imperial County’s lithium could contribute to making the U.S. a global player in lithium extraction.
Meanwhile, Imperial County has continued to face some of the state’s highest unemployment numbers and limited access to local higher education opportunities. Community members have raised concerns that without the proper resources, they may be left out of the opportunities that may come with the new industry.
Guillermina Gina Nuñez-Mchiri, the dean of SDSU Imperial Valley, says she and community partners hope the new campus will be an “open door” for students to study and develop careers locally: “We hope our students will be the next generation of local leaders and professionals who will transform the future of the geothermal industry in Imperial Valley.”
Garcia, who throughout his term advocated for community benefits from the burgeoning lithium industry, celebrated the completion of the project and said it was an investment in the “community’s ability to lead in the emerging Lithium Valley economy.”
“When we fought to secure $80 million for this expansion, we knew we were investing in more than bricks and mortar,” Garcia said.
First-year and transfer students can apply to the new electrical engineering and chemistry undergraduate programs for fall 2026 enrollment. In spring 2026, public health and nursing programs will also be available.