{beacon} Energy & Environment Energy & Environment   The Big Story  Lithium mining project approved despite concerns over wildflower The Biden administration this week gave final approval to a  Nevada lithium mining project that officials say could supply enough of the mineral for nearly 370,000 electric vehicles.© Patrick Donnelly/Center for Biological Diversity via AP, File The approved project was the Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron mine, which the administration said will be a boon for the mineral supply chain and support U.S. jobs.  “The Rhyolite Ridge lithium mine project is essential to advancing the clean energy transition and powering the economy of the future,” Laura Daniel-Davis, acting deputy secretary of the Interior Department, said in a statement. However, environmental activists maintained that the mine would threaten the survival of Tiehm’s buckwheat, a rare Nevada wildflower they described as “a linchpin of the local ecosystem.” “By greenlighting this mine the Bureau of Land Management is abandoning its duty to protect endangered species,” Patrick Donnelly, Great Basin director for the Center for Biological Diversity, said in a statement. “We need lithium for the energy transition, but it can’t come with a price tag of extinction.”  Concerns have also been raised about the project's impacts to area water resources, which sustain desert bighorn sheep and mule deer — animals that Western Shoshone tribes have hunted throughout history. The mine and an access road together will encompass about 7,166 acres of land. The project is expected to include 17 years of lithium extraction.   Read more from our colleague Sharon Udasin at TheHill.com.  Welcome to The Hill’s Energy & Environment newsletter, we’re Rachel Frazin and Zack Budryk— keeping you up to speed on the policies impacting everything from oil and gas to new supply chains.   Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here.   Essential Reads  How policy will affect the energy and environment sectors now and in the future:  Biden administration announces $3 billion for rural electric co-opsThe Biden administration announced more than $3 billion Friday in funding for seven rural electric cooperatives, part of a broader effort to promote renewable energy in rural areas.  Full Story  Wildfires are becoming faster and more furious in the US West Fast-growing flames have been responsible for the lion’s share of U.S. wildfire-related damage in recent years, despite being relatively rare occurrences, a new study has found.  Full Story   Climate change reshapes cities, both environmentally and financiallyIn thousands of U.S. towns and cities, worsening climate threats — largely due to fossil fuels — trap cities in a paradox.    Full Story  Leonardo DiCaprio backs Harris, says Trump ‘continues to deny the facts’ about climate change Leonardo DiCaprio says he’s voting for Vice President Harris in the White House race because “we need a bold step forward to save our economy, our planet and ourselves,” while former President Trump “continues to deny the facts” when it comes to climate change.  Full Story  In Other News  Branch out with a different read from The Hill: Biden becomes first president to apologize for Native American boarding school policy President Biden apologized Friday for Native American boarding schools that were part of U.S. policy for 150 years and stripped children away from their tribes and culture.   Full Story   What We're Reading  News we've flagged from other outlets touching on energy issues, the environment and other topics: Federal Court Ruling on a Reservoir Expansion Could Have Big Implications for the Colorado River (Inside Climate News)  Experts say a proposed revamp to the recycling symbol is still deceptive — and probably illegal (Grist)  Environmental groups sue New York, New Jersey over sturgeon deaths (The Times Union)   What Others are Reading  Two key stories on The Hill right now:Harris sees troubling signs in latest New York Times/Siena poll The final national poll before Election Day from The New York Times and Siena College has some troubling signs for Vice President Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee. Read moreWashington Post reels from Bezos decision to not endorse The Washington Post is reeling from a decision to abstain from endorsing a presidential candidate in the 2024 election, a move that was reportedly made by billionaire owner Jeff Bezos after its editorial board drafted an endorsement of Vice President Harris.   Read more   Opinions in The Hill  Op-ed related to energy & environment submitted to The Hill: Why are climate battles being waged at the state level?   You're all caught up. See you Monday!  Close Thank you for signing up! Subscribe to more newsletters here The latest in politics and policy. Direct to your inbox. Sign up for the Energy and Environment newsletter Subscribe