Photo: Element3Element3 just raised a fresh round of funding to launch the first US commercial lithium extraction plants, and it’s sourcing the lithium from oil and gas wastewater in Texas. That’s a big deal because it means there will be a domestic lithium supply for EVs and battery storage within a few months. The critical materials extraction company announced the close of its Series A funding round led by TO VC. With a lithium carbonate plant already installed in the region, the company says its vertically integrated setup is ready to supply lithium for the US energy transition. By tapping into that wastewater, Element3 avoids many challenges that delay conventional lithium mining, such as lengthy permitting, land disruption, and high carbon emissions.