[jhgb]

> while lithium is in the category “rare Earths”

No, it's not. Where did you get that from? Surely not from elementary school chemistry lessons, where you're taught that lithium is an alkali metal.

[pfdietz]

There was a propaganda effort trying to paint renewables as dirty, pointing to environmental problems with Chinese REE refining. Shellenberger was hawking this at one point, claiming PV uses rare earth elements. One still hears echoes.

[ben_w]

News articles that want to dismiss renewables seem to often call it that.

You’re right, of course. I’m not a chemist and it shows.

[ZeroGravitas]

Also worth noting that "rare earths" aren't rare (nor are they earths), that's just their name.