Judge halts lithium battery storage facility near Canton
CANTON, Texas (KETK) – The district court judge issued a temporary restraining order against the Finland-based company Taaleri Energia currently building a lithium battery storage facility just west of Canton.
Van Zandt County Fire Marshal orders battery facility to meet fire codes or face consequences
The Amador project was first announced in November 2024 and ever since then community members have been fighting against the development.
'If they meet all the demands, then that's one step closer to knowing we might be safe, but right now, there's a large fear,' community member, Nancy White said.
Safety is a concern and reason behind the efforts to prevent the project from moving forward.
'I just don't have the confidence and the security,' White said. 'So, for now, I'm going to say that I'd rather than wait till the technology is ready and it's not.'
Multiple community members cited potential threats to both soil and air quality as well as lack of resources for local first responders to handle potential emergencies like a lithium battery fire.
The temporary restraining order lasts 14 days and means the company can't move any lithium batteries onto the construction site, or within Van Zandt County.
Van Zandt County seeks Trump's support for unwanted foreign-owned lithium battery storage
'In our in our petition, we set out for the court some of our primary concerns,' Van Zandt County District Attorney Tonda Curry said. 'Those regarding the battery testing, the module testing, the container testing, as well as their hazard mitigation plan.'
They're also concerned about the emergency operation plan and water access at the site.
'If you are going to come here, your system is going to have to be as safe as it can be,' Curry said. 'And that means it has to meet these National Fire Protection Association standards.'
The Finland-based company said in a statement they are working to comply with state regulations for project Amador and said they are actively working with the Van Zandt County Fire Marshal to provide documentation. Curry said if the company doesn't meet the state regulations before the deadline they could proceed with a more permanent injunction.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Insider information: Carl Haglund appointed as Chief Executive Officer of Aktia Bank Plc
Aktia Bank PlcInsider information12 June 2025 at 9.30 a.m. HELSINKI, June 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Aktia's Board of Directors has appointed (Econ.) Carl Haglund as the new Chief Executive Officer of Aktia Bank Plc. Carl Haglund will join Aktia no later than in September 2025 as a designated key person in a senior executive role and will assume the CEO position after completing an induction programme. In connection with the appointment, Carl Haglund steps down from the Board of Directors of Aktia with immediate effect. The Board of Directors will continue to operate without other changes to its composition. The Board of Directors has simultaneously appointed Anssi Huhta, currently EVP of Banking Business at Aktia, as interim CEO until Carl Haglund's induction period ends. The Board of Directors of Aktia and the current CEO Aleksi Lehtonen have decided by mutual agreement that Lehtonen will leave his position today. Carl Haglund has served as CEO of Veritas for the past three years. Prior to that, he held senior leadership roles at Accenture's Nordic banking and insurance business, served as CEO of bioenergy company Sunshine Kaidi New Energy Group, and held positions as Member of the Finnish Parliament, Finland's Minister of Defence and Member of the European Parliament. He has also served on the Board of Directors of eQ, among others. The Board believes that Carl Haglund's broad experience will bring precisely the energy and momentum required to deliver on the company's updated strategy, announced in February, in the current rapidly evolving market environment. "We are very pleased to be able to welcome Carl Haglund as the new CEO of Aktia. He is a visionary and versatile leader with a proven track record in both creating a growth culture and leading growth-oriented transformation with strong results. Carl has a deep understanding of the company and he was involved in shaping our current strategic direction and growth programme, which Aktia is already implementing," says Matts Rosenberg, Chairman of the Board of Aktia. Carl Haglund will join Aktia no later than September 2025, entering a comprehensive induction programme. The exact duration of the onboarding and the start date of his CEO tenure will be confirmed at a later stage. The induction program is standard practice in the financial sector and its purpose is to ensure that Carl Haglund meets the regulatory fit & proper requirements. During the induction programme, Carl Haglund will serve in a designated key executive role at Aktia. Matts Rosenberg, Chairman of the Board of Aktia: "Aktia's goal is to democratise wealth management and become Finland's leading wealth manager. Aktia's Board is confident that Carl Haglund has the ability to take Aktia forward into the next stage of development. Throughout the different phases of his career, he has demonstrated the ability to lead transformation and profitable growth in an inspiring way. I would also like to warmly thank Aleksi Lehtonen on behalf of the Board of Directors and all employees of Aktia for his valuable contribution to the development and launch of the updated strategy, as well as the initiation of the acceleration programme. With his experience, he has taken Aktia to the next level. I wish Aleksi all the best for the future." Carl Haglund: "Aktia has a clear and ambitious strategy, with the aim to become a leading wealth manager empowered by a strong banking heritage. Aktia combines strong banking, life insurance and asset management operations with personalised service, which creates a strong foundation for growth. A new, skilled leadership team is already executing the recently launched Momentum growth programme. I look forward to accelerating the implementation of the strategy together with all the talented professionals at Aktia. The world and the economic landscape are evolving rapidly, and reaching our goals will require determined and collaborative effort." Carl Haglund's appointment is conditional on the Financial Supervisory Authority not having any objections to the appointment. Aktia Bank Plc Board of Directors Further information:Matts Rosenberg, Chairman of the BoardMia Smeds, Communications Director, Tel. +358 44 546 0379, Email (at) Distribution:Nasdaq Helsinki LtdMass Aktia is a Finnish asset manager, bank and life insurer that has been creating wealth and wellbeing from one generation to the next for 200 years. We serve our customers in digital channels everywhere and face-to-face in our offices in the Helsinki, Turku, Tampere, Vaasa and Oulu regions. Our award-winning asset management business sells investment funds internationally. We employ approximately 850 people around Finland. Aktia's gross assets under management (AuM) on 31 March 2025 amounted to EUR 15.7 billion, and the balance sheet total was EUR 12.0 billion. Aktia's shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd (AKTIA). This information was brought to you by Cision The following files are available for download: Insider information: Carl Haglund appointed as Chief Executive Officer of Aktia Bank Plc Carl Haglund View original content: Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten Melden Sie sich an, um Ihr Portfolio aufzurufen. Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten
Business Upturn
an hour ago
- Business Upturn
Anupam Rasayan signs LOI with E-Lyte and FUCHS Lubricants Germany for long-term electrolyte salt supply
By Aditya Bhagchandani Published on June 12, 2025, 11:51 IST Anupam Rasayan India Ltd. has entered a new strategic domain with the signing of a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Germany-based E-Lyte Innovations GmbH and FUCHS Lubricants Germany GmbH. This collaboration marks the company's expansion into the lithium-ion battery chemicals market, where it plans to supply up to 1,500 TPA of Lithium Hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6) over a five-year period starting as early as FY26-27. E-Lyte, known for its cutting-edge work in electrolyte solutions for energy storage, and FUCHS Lubricants, a global leader in lubricants and a shareholder in E-Lyte, have selected Anupam Rasayan for its process optimization capabilities and supply chain reliability. The deal leverages Anupam's backward integration in fluorine chemistry via Tanfac Industries and positions it among the first commercial manufacturers of this electrolyte salt in India. Managing Director Anand Desai stated that this partnership is a strategic milestone in Anupam's journey to serve the growing energy storage and battery sector. The company views this as a gateway to multiple new opportunities in the electric mobility and next-gen battery ecosystem. Disclaimer: The information provided is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial or investment advice. Stock market investments are subject to market risks. Always conduct your own research or consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions. Author or Business Upturn is not liable for any losses arising from the use of this information. Aditya Bhagchandani serves as the Senior Editor and Writer at Business Upturn, where he leads coverage across the Business, Finance, Corporate, and Stock Market segments. With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to journalistic integrity, he not only contributes insightful articles but also oversees editorial direction for the reporting team.
an hour ago
Critical minerals give China an edge in trade negotiations
GANZHOU, China -- China's dominance over critical minerals in global supply chains was a powerful bargaining chip in trade talks between Beijing and Washington that concluded with both sides saying they have a framework to pursue a deal. China has spent decades building the world's main industrial chain for mining and processing such materials, which are used in many industries such as electronics, advanced manufacturing, defense and health care. Mines and factories in and around Ganzhou, a key production hub for rare earths, underpin China's control over the minerals. Many residents grew up collecting rocks containing the valuable minerals from the forested hills surrounding the southern city and today make a living from mining, trading or processing them. Responding to ever higher tariffs and other controls on advanced technology, China told exporters of certain key rare earths and other critical minerals to obtain licenses for every shipment abroad. Approvals can take weeks, leading to supply chain disruptions in the U.S. and other countries. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that China would make it easier for American industry to obtain much-needed needed magnets and rare earth minerals, clearing the way for talks to continue between the world's two biggest economies. In return, Trump said, the U.S. will stop efforts to revoke the visas of Chinese nationals on U.S. college campuses. But details remain scarce. Beijing has not confirmed what the negotiators agreed to, and Chinese President Xi Jinping and Trump himself have yet to sign off on it. The Chinese Commerce Ministry said Saturday it had approved a 'certain number' of export licenses for rare earth products, apparently acknowledging Trump's personal request to Xi during a phone call last week. And on Wednesday, the Ganzhou-based rare-earth conglomerate JL MAG Rare-Earth Co. confirmed it had obtained some export licenses for shipments to destinations including the U.S., Europe and Southeast Asia. Experts say, however, Beijing is unlikely to do away with the permit system enabling it to control access to those valuable resources. The only scenario in which China might deregulate its critical minerals export is if the U.S. first fully removes tariffs imposed on Chinese goods as part of the trade war, said Wang Yiwei, a professor of international affairs at Renmin University, echoing the Chinese government's earlier stance. 'Without that,' he said, 'it will be difficult to blame China for continuing to strengthen its export controls.' In 1992, Deng Xiaoping, the leader who launched China's ascent as the world's biggest manufacturing power, famously said 'the Middle East has oil, China has rare earths,' signaling a desire to leverage access to the key minerals. Several generations later, Beijing has made its rich reserves of rare earths, a group of 17 minerals that are abundant in the earth's crust but hard, expensive and environmentally polluting to process, a key element of China's economic security. In 2019, during a visit to a rare earth processing plant in Ganzhou, Xi described rare earths as a 'vital strategic resource.' China today has an essential monopoly over 'heavy rare earths,' used for making powerful, heat-resistance magnets used in industries such as defense and electric vehicles. The country also produces around 80% of the world's tungsten, gallium and antimony, and 60% of the world's germanium -– all minerals used in the making of semiconductors, among other advanced technologies. The risks of dependency on Chinese suppliers first came into focus in 2010, when Beijing suspended rare earths exports to Japan due to a territorial dispute. The ban was lifted after about two months, but as a precaution, Japan invested in rare earths processing plants in other countries and began stockpiling the materials. Beijing's across-the-board requirement for export licenses for some critical minerals has put pressure on world electronics manufacturers and automakers. Some auto parts makers in Europe have shut down production lines due to delays in supply deliveries, according to the European Association of Automotive Suppliers. In the U.S., Tesla CEO Elon Musk said a shortage of rare earths is affecting his company's work on humanoid robots. In the drab industrial hub of Ganzhou, cradled by the scenic Dayu Mountains, the U.S.-China trade war is still a distant stressor. Miners and small mineral traders interviewed by The Associated Press said they are more concerned about depleting the mountains' once-abundant resources. Zhong, a tungsten factory manager in Ganzhou who would only give his last name, worked his way up to manager from a miner, but he's unsure there is a future for him and others in the industry. 'I find growing difficulties to source tungsten these days,' he said, adding that smaller mines and trading companies are slowly disappearing as the resources are dwindling. Tungsten is an ultra-hard metal used in armor-piercing ammunition, nuclear reactors and semiconductors. At least five tungsten mines have closed in the area in recent years, according to state media. Remaining reserves are deeper and harder to extract and process after decades of exploitation, said Li Shangkui, chairman of the Ganzhou-based Jiangxi Yuean Advanced Materials Co., Ltd. Processing factories in Ganzhou now routinely source materials from other provinces or other countries. Zhong's plant imports some raw materials from places like Africa and Cambodia. Major state-owned and private companies in Ganzhou are also ramping up investments abroad. Tungsten producer Ganzhou Haisheng, for instance, announced last year a $25 million investment in a new tungsten plant in Thailand. Whatever the challenges in procuring raw materials, China likely will seek to maintain its dominance in critical minerals, said Fabian Villalobos, an engineer and critical minerals expert at the RAND think tank. Between 2020 and 2023, the U.S. imported at least 70% of the rare earth compounds it used from China, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. It has diversified its sources in recent years, but still mainly relies on China. Since beginning his second term in office, Trump has made improving access to critical minerals a matter of national security. But the U.S. has an incredibly long way to go to catch up with China, experts say. The sole operational U.S. rare earths mine, in Mountain Pass, California, is unable to separate heavy rare earths. It sends its ore to China for processing. The U.S. Defense Department has provided funding to the mine's owner, MP Materials, to build new separation facilities. It will take months to build and still only produce a fraction of what is needed. Friction over the issue has opened the way for government-backed financing that was unavailable before, said Mark Smith, who ran the Mountain Pass mine in the early 2010s and now leads NioCorp. It's seeking about $780 million in financing through the U.S. Export-Import Bank to build a processing facility in Nebraska for critical minerals including rare earths. The Defense Department has committed $439 million to building domestic rare earth supply chains, but building a complete mining and processing industrial chain like China's could take decades. 'There are going to be some real issues here unless we can figure out how to get along with China for a period of time while we're developing our own resources and our mainstream processing,' Smith said. The spotlight on critical minerals also provides opportunities for smaller miners to invest in extracting and processing some critical minerals, such as tungsten, considered 'niche' because they are needed in relatively small amounts in key industries, said Milo McBride, an expert on sustainability and geopolitics at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. 'For many of these companies, the business strategy hedges on a scenario where the U.S. and China become more confrontational and where trade relations become more uncomfortable,' McBride said. 'And all of a sudden, what was once an uneconomic project somewhere outside of China starts to make more sense.'
