The U.S. Department of Energy will take a five per cent stake in Vancouver-based Lithium Americas, and another five per cent in its Nevada-based joint venture with General Motors, through warrants with an exercise price of US$0.01. (The Logic)

Talking point: Lithium Americas’ shares rose about 23 per cent on Wednesday, and are up nearly 148 per cent over the past month after the negotiations were first reported. The government stake is part of a set of new conditions that Vancouver-based Lithium Americas must meet to access the Energy Department’s US$2.26-billion loan, issued under the previous administration in October 2024. The U.S. has moved to take stakes in companies like Intel and rare earths company MP Materials in recent months; the Energy Department said the Lithium Americas warrants are intended to protect taxpayers. The lithium from the Nevada mine is expected to be used in GM’s electric vehicles, some of which are made in Ingersoll, Ont.