The inland, saline Salton Sea in California is in desperate condition, filled with dead fish and toxins for agricultural runoffs. If Tesla built their planned battery manufacturing gigafactory there, they could extract lithium from the brine to use in the batteries. Plus, they could create much of their own power from wind and solar. The factory would create 6,000 jobs in an area that really needs them. It’s a bit of a longshot as there is plenty of competition from other areas.
Let’s hope it happens. A big manufacturing plant would revitalize the area, create lots of subsidiary businesses, and help efforts to save the Salton Sea.