Published

7 hours ago

March 17, 2026

Alice Rush

Disseminated on behalf of Surge Battery Metals Inc.

March 17, 2026: West Vancouver, BC; Surge Battery Metals Inc. (the “Company” or “Surge”) (TSXV: NILI, OTC: NILIF, FRA: DJ5C) is pleased to announce that former Berkshire Hathaway Energy executive, Mr. Richard Weech, has joined the Board of the Company as an Independent Director.

Mr. Weech is an executive professional with a thirty-five-year record of leading and contributing to high-achieving organizations delivering superior results in a variety of diverse leadership, financial, and operating roles in public and private businesses. He has extensive experience in leading and building businesses, developing people, raising capital, strategic planning, business development, joint venture structuring and risk management. Before his retirement in 2022, Mr. Weech spent 2014 through July 2022 responsible for leading the Berkshire Hathaway Energy subsidiaries, BHE Investments and BHE Renewables, through significant asset and financial growth that included developing and evaluating lithium extraction opportunities. Mr. Weech holds the CA, CPA, CFA professional designations and graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce with Distinction from the University of Alberta.

Mr. Weech commented: “I am excited to join the Surge Board of Directors and contribute to the successful development of a world class lithium critical mineral opportunity.”

In connection with the appointment of Mr. Weech to the Company’s Board of Directors, the Company has received the resignation of Mr. Ted O’Connor. The Company wishes to thank Mr. O’Connor for his contribution as a director and wishes him well in his future endeavors.

About Surge Battery Metals Inc.

Surge Battery Metals Inc., a Canadian-based mineral exploration company, is at the forefront of securing the supply of domestic lithium through its active engagement in the Nevada North Lithium Project. The project focuses on development of high-grade lithium energy metals in Nevada, USA, a crucial element for powering battery electric storage and electric vehicles. With a primary listing on the TSX Venture Exchange in Canada and a listing on the OTCQX Market in the USA, Surge Battery Metals Inc. is strategically positioned as a key player in advancing lithium exploration.

About Evolution Mining Limited

Evolution Mining is a leading, globally relevant gold miner. Evolution operates six mines, comprising five wholly-owned mines – Cowal in New South Wales, Ernest Henry and Mt Rawdon in Queensland, Mungari in Western Australia, and Red Lake in Ontario, Canada, and an 80% share in Northparkes in New South Wales.

About Nevada North Lithium LLC

Nevada North Lithium LLC owns the Nevada North Lithium Project southeast of Jackpot, Nevada about 73 km north-northeast of Wells, Elko County. The first three rounds of drilling at the project identified a strongly mineralized zone of lithium bearing clays occupying a strike length of more than 4,300 meters and a known width of greater than 1,500 meters. Highly anomalous soil values and geophysical surveys suggest there is potential for the clay horizons to be much greater in extent. The Nevada North Lithium Project has a pit-constrained Inferred Resource containing an estimated 11.24 Mt of Lithium Carbonate Equivalent (LCE) grading 3010 ppm Li at a 1,250-ppm cutoff. The recently completed PEA for the project reported an after-tax NPV8% US $9.17 Billion and after-tax IRR of 22.8% at $24,000/t LCE and an OPEX of US $5,243/t LCE.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

“Greg Reimer”

Greg Reimer, Director, President & CEO

DISCLAIMER

New Era Publishing Inc. and/or CarbonCredits.com (“We” or “Us”) are not securities dealers or brokers, investment advisers, or financial advisers, and you should not rely on the information herein as investment advice. Surge Battery Metals Inc. (“Company”) made a one-time payment of $50,000 to provide marketing services for a term of two months. None of the owners, members, directors, or employees of New Era Publishing Inc. and/or CarbonCredits.com currently hold, or have any beneficial ownership in, any shares, stocks, or options of the companies mentioned.

This article is informational only and is solely for use by prospective investors in determining whether to seek additional information. It does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities. Examples that we provide of share price increases pertaining to a particular issuer from one referenced date to another represent arbitrarily chosen time periods and are no indication whatsoever of future stock prices for that issuer and are of no predictive value.

Our stock profiles are intended to highlight certain companies for your further investigation; they are not stock recommendations or an offer or sale of the referenced securities. The securities issued by the companies we profile should be considered high-risk; if you do invest despite these warnings, you may lose your entire investment. Please do your own research before investing, including reviewing the companies’ SEDAR+ and SEC filings, press releases, and risk disclosures.

It is our policy that the information contained in this profile was provided by the company, extracted from SEDAR+ and SEC filings, company websites, and other publicly available sources. We believe the sources and information are accurate and reliable but we cannot guarantee them.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT AND FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information generally can be identified by words such as “anticipate,” “expect,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “plan,” and similar expressions suggesting future outcomes or events. Forward-looking information is based on current expectations of management; however, it is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated.

These factors include, without limitation, statements relating to the Company’s exploration and development plans, the potential of its mineral projects, financing activities, regulatory approvals, market conditions, and future objectives. Forward-looking information involves numerous risks and uncertainties and actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking information. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, market volatility, the state of financial markets for the Company’s securities, fluctuations in commodity prices, operational challenges, and changes in business plans.

Forward-looking information is based on several key expectations and assumptions, including, without limitation, that the Company will continue with its stated business objectives and will be able to raise additional capital as required. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended.

There can be no assurance that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Additional information about risks and uncertainties is contained in the Company’s management’s discussion and analysis and annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2024, copies of which are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

The forward-looking information contained herein is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. Forward-looking information reflects management’s current beliefs and is based on information currently available to the Company. The forward-looking information is made as of the date of this news release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances except as may be required by applicable law.

The post Surge Announces Former Berkshire Hathaway Energy Executive Mr. Richard Weech Joins the Board as an Independent Director appeared first on Carbon Credits.

Carbon Footprint

How carbon project developers quantify biodiversity and community impact

Published

6 hours ago

March 17, 2026

Alice Rush

How carbon project developers quantify biodiversity and community impact

The verified carbon market is changing. Buyers are asking harder questions. A carbon credit’s value is increasingly defined not just by the carbon it represents, but by what the project delivers alongside it and by how rigorously those outcomes are measured.

Carbon Footprint

The cocoa paradox: Rising demand and falling prices

Published

14 hours ago

March 17, 2026

Alice Rush

Cocoa prices have collapsed, but global demand continues to rise. Discover why falling prices hide a structural crisis for farmers.

Chocolate consumption is rising. Global demand has grown by 20% in the last 5 years, and the appetite for premium chocolate has never been stronger. Yet, across West Africa, many of the farmers who grow the core ingredient are actively abandoning their crops.

Carbon Footprint

DOE Launches $500M Funding Drive to Strengthen U.S. Battery Supply Chains and Critical Minerals Processing

Published

22 hours ago

March 16, 2026

Alice Rush

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a major funding initiative aimed at strengthening domestic battery supply chains and reducing reliance on foreign sources of critical minerals. The department introduced a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) worth up to $500 million to expand U.S. capabilities in mineral processing, battery materials manufacturing, and recycling.

Significantly, these investments target industries such as grid storage, transportation, manufacturing, and national defense. At the same time, the initiative reflects growing concerns about supply chain vulnerabilities for minerals that power modern energy technologies.

According to Chris Wright, the United States has relied for too long on foreign suppliers to provide and process key materials used in battery manufacturing. Strengthening domestic supply chains, he explained, will help the country meet rising energy demand while maintaining economic and technological leadership.

Strengthening the Domestic Battery Supply Chain

The DOE’s new funding program focuses on boosting the United States’ ability to process, recycle, and manufacture battery materials domestically. Currently, many minerals used in advanced batteries are mined globally but processed overseas before reaching U.S. manufacturers.

america critical mineral

This dependency creates supply risks and exposes the economy to geopolitical disruptions. As a result, the new funding program aims to build a more resilient supply chain across several stages of battery production. Explained in detail below:

Critical Mineral Processing

First, the program seeks to expand domestic processing of critical minerals. Many essential battery materials—including lithium, nickel, graphite, copper, and aluminum—require complex refining processes before they can be used in batteries. By investing in new processing facilities, the United States hopes to reduce reliance on foreign refining capacity and ensure a stable supply of materials for domestic industries.

Battery Recycling Technologies

Second, the initiative emphasizes recycling technologies. Recovering valuable metals from used batteries and manufacturing scrap can significantly reduce the need for new mining while improving supply security. Recycling also lowers environmental impacts by reducing waste and conserving natural resources.

global critical mineral processing

SEE MORE: USA Rare Earth (USAR) Stock Soars After $3.1B Funding Boost for Mine-to-Magnet Buildout

Battery Manufacturing Capacity

Finally, the program aims to expand manufacturing capacity for battery materials and components within the United States. Increasing domestic production of battery precursors, cathode materials, and other key components will help support the entire North American battery supply chain.

The funding is supported by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which allocated billions of dollars to strengthen energy infrastructure and domestic manufacturing across the country.

Battery Storage Becomes a Major U.S. Energy Technology

The urgency behind these investments reflects the rapid growth of battery storage across the United States. In recent years, battery systems have emerged as a critical technology for managing modern power grids.

In fact, batteries became the largest form of energy storage in the country in 2024, surpassing traditional pumped hydro storage for the first time. This shift marks a significant milestone in the evolution of the U.S. electricity system.

At the same time, the number of battery projects expanded rapidly. Nearly 1,000 storage projects were either operating or under development across the country. Many of these projects are located in California and Texas, where large-scale renewable energy installations require flexible storage solutions to stabilize the electricity supply.

One notable example is the Moss Landing Energy Storage Facility, one of the largest battery installations in the United States. Located in California, the facility pairs a natural gas power plant with massive battery storage systems that can deliver electricity when demand peaks.

As renewable energy capacity continues to grow, battery storage will play an increasingly important role in maintaining grid reliability and balancing intermittent energy sources such as solar and wind.

EV Battery Manufacturing Market Continues to Grow

The electric vehicle industry is another major driver behind rising battery demand. As EV adoption accelerates globally, automakers and battery companies are investing heavily in new manufacturing facilities.

In the United States, the electric vehicle battery manufacturing market is projected to grow steadily over the coming years. Industry estimates suggest the market will reach approximately $17.94 billion in 2026, increasing from $16.36 billion in 2025.

Looking further ahead, the sector is expected to expand significantly. By 2031, the market could reach around $28.46 billion, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of nearly 9.7 percent.

battery storage US

Multiple factors fuel this growth. Federal incentives for clean energy technologies, rising consumer demand for electric vehicles, and large-scale investments in domestic manufacturing are all contributing to the expansion of the U.S. battery industry.

However, sustaining this growth will require reliable access to the minerals that power advanced batteries.

America’s Critical Mineral Supply Remains a Concern

To address supply risks, the U.S. Geological Survey expanded its official list of critical minerals in 2025. The updated list now includes 60 minerals, up from 50 identified in 2022.

Several new minerals were added due to their growing importance for the economy and national security. These additions include boron, copper, lead, metallurgical coal, phosphate, potash, rhenium, silicon, silver, and uranium.

Despite these efforts, the United States remains heavily dependent on imports for many critical minerals. As of 2024, the country relied entirely on foreign suppliers for twelve critical minerals. Meanwhile, more than half of the domestic demand for twenty-nine minerals came from imports.

Rare earth elements represent one of the most significant vulnerabilities because global supply chains remain highly concentrated. China continues to dominate the production and processing of these materials, raising concerns about potential supply disruptions.

As a result, U.S. policymakers are increasingly focused on strengthening domestic mining, processing, and recycling capabilities.

Global Demand for Energy Minerals Is Rising Fast

The push to secure mineral supply chains also reflects rapidly growing global demand for energy materials. According to the IEA, demand for key minerals used in clean energy technologies is expected to increase dramatically in the coming decades.

Lithium demand, for example, could grow fivefold by 2040 under current policy scenarios. Copper will likely remain the largest mineral market by value, while other materials such as nickel, cobalt, graphite, and rare earth elements will also see strong growth.

iea global demand critical minerals

Overall, the combined market value for six key energy minerals—copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite, and rare earth elements—could reach approximately $500 billion by 2040. This surge reflects the rapid expansion of electric vehicles, renewable power systems, battery storage, and other clean energy technologies.

Consequently, governments around the world are competing to secure reliable access to these strategic resources.

Against this backdrop, the DOE’s $500 million funding initiative represents an important step toward strengthening America’s position in the global battery economy. By expanding domestic processing, recycling, and manufacturing capacity, the United States aims to reduce supply risks while supporting the technologies that will power the future energy system.