Now that the election is done, lawmakers in Washington and Augusta both face a policy question that could impact the lives and livelihood of residents in one corner of Maine with repercussions across the country. The reason for that can be found in Newry — a small, woodsy spot near the New Hampshire border with a population of only 320.

Newry is best known as the home to the Sunday River ski resort. Beyond the mountain, it is made up mostly of small farms, a few handmade log cabins, and a main road that’s so bumpy it feels almost unpaved in sections.

But just behind the red barns and not far beneath the surface of the picturesque hillsides, is a $1.5 billion question that involves the green energy showdown between the U.S. and China, hundreds of possible jobs, and a potential toxic nightmare. This is all because Newry is home to the largest lithium deposit in the United States.

Lithium is currently the most valuable hard metal on earth and it’s critical to the green energy transition now underway. The market price of lithium has increased by 118% in the last year alone. The primary use of the metal is lithium batteries, which are used to store green energy and power electric cars. But despite our huge need, the U.S. only produces about 1% of the global market.

While we hold many deposits, we only have one active lithium mine in the country. In fact the bulk of our lithium comes from China. With tensions running high between the U.S. and China, lawmakers in D.C. are concerned about accessing more of our lithium reserves. The struggle for lithium has been recognized by the president, as well, who recently signed a bill with $400 billion in green energy and climate funding. This lithium deposit is the biggest in the country, and features the biggest crystals in the world, and would not only help the country’s lithium shortfall, but could provide Maine with billions of dollars in economic benefits. Those benefits could help right now. Roughly 11% of Maine’s population lives below the poverty line, and in the area around Newry, this number runs higher.

For an idea of possible economic outcomes let’s consider the Thacker Pass Mine in Nevada. The mine owners are estimating they will create 1000 construction jobs, and more than 300 mining jobs over the projected 50 year life of the project. Additional studies suggested that it has already doubled local employment and generated $225,000 in secondary economic benefits for every $1 million invested in the mine. That would mean opening a mine in Newry could create a huge surge in high-paying jobs and hundreds of millions in secondary economic benefits.

But here is the downside: While lithium can help the transition to green energy, the actual process of mining it can be very toxic. What’s more, Maine does not look kindly on mining. Previously, open pit mining was a common source of income in Maine’s mineral rich topography. However, during the 1960s, roughly 800,000 tons of metal was pulled out of the earth with little environmental regulation.

Since then, according to a study conducted by Dartmouth’s environmental department, there has been widespread soil and water contamination. After reviewing the study, in 2017 Maine passed a ban on open pit mining that environmentalists called the “toughest anti-mining law in the country.” Since extracting lithium is a complex process that requires open-pit work, the owners of the land can’t proceed to mine without a change in the law.

The unique problem for lithium mining is that it requires a lot of fresh water, which it then turns toxic. Mining lithium has a use rate of 2 million liters of water per one ton of lithium. In a typical mine with over 11 million tons, you’re using 22 trillion liters of water. The chemicals inside the brine brought up from a lithium mine can leak into the surrounding water systems, causing further water loss and soil contamination. These chemicals that leak from these pools include sulfuric acid (a corrosive substance that is dangerous to the touch) and sodium hydroxide (corrosive to all body tissue and really bad to inhale).

So with the need for green energy minerals and jobs on one end of the spectrum, and environmental hazards on the other, where should Maine end up? The need for lithium is so big right now, a recent International Energy Agency report suggested that 59 new lithium mines need to come on line around the world by the end of this decade.

The U.S. as a country cannot continue to rely on foreign powers such as China for our lithium. As our relationship with the belligerent Chinese leadership continues to worsen, we don’t want to become more dependent on them for our energy. This mine could potentially provide critical material and increase the strength of Maine’s economy. But at what cost? Are there safeguards that can protect against the release of toxic metals into its wilderness? Especially in a part of the state so dependent on tourism?

Lawmakers need to find the middle ground of regulation on lithium mines, yet the debate doesn’t seem to be happening on the state or federal level. The conversation needs to start now so Maine residents can decide on their future before someone else does it for them

Tommy Lowell is a freshman at Colby College in Waterville. He attended high school in Bethel.

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