Shares of Lithium Americas (NYSE: LAC) were up 8% as of midday Monday, in response to a ruling that the mining outfit can move forward with plans to excavate its Thacker Pass site in Nevada. Just as the name suggests, Lithium Americas is a key producer of lithium, the key component of batteries used to power electric vehicles. The industry continues to expand, with worldwide sales of electrified automobiles growing 41% last year even with the pandemic in place, according to numbers from the International Energy Agency.