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If this story is true (and there seems no reason to doubt it) why would anyone trust them to execute any better in the future?

GASTON COUNTY, N.C. (Reuters) -In its quest to build one of the largest lithium mines in the United States, Piedmont Lithium Inc has overlooked one crucial constituency: its North Carolina neighbors.
Piedmont last autumn signed a deal to supply U.S. electric automaker Tesla Inc with lithium sourced from its deposits in North Carolina, sending the company's stock up tenfold.
Piedmont has also hired investment banks to find investors for its $840 million project, which would include an open-air pit more than 500 feet (152 m) deep and facilities to produce lithium-based electric vehicle (EV) battery chemicals.

The company, however, has not applied for a state mining permit or a necessary zoning variance in Gaston County, just west of Charlotte, despite telling investors since 2018 that it was on the verge of doing so.

Five of the seven members of the county's board of commissioners, who control zoning changes, say they may block or delay the project because Piedmont has not told them what levels of dust, noise and vibrations will occur, nor how water and air quality would be affected.
"Piedmont has sort of put the proverbial cart before the horse," said Tom Keigher, chair of the board of commissioners. "Why in the world would they make this deal with Tesla before they even have approval for the mine?"

"We finally have a project to debut and really talk about," said Keith Phillips, Piedmont's chief executive officer.
"Maybe it would have been better had (commissioners) been in the loop constantly. We didn't really have the time or resources to do it and we didn't even know what to tell them, until now."

In September 2018, Piedmont told investors it expected to obtain permits by the end of 2019. In August 2019, executives said they would apply for permits and rezoning "in the coming months."

Piedmont said both times it was "not aware" of any reason why the county would not approve zoning changes, even though it had yet to present any information to commissioners. In December, Piedmont said it expected to receive local zoning approval before the end of June.

Piedmont had been set to meet with commissioners in March, but canceled with three days' notice, further straining the relationship. Piedmont said it canceled that meeting in order to further refine its plans.
"This has been the worst rollout of a project from a company I've ever seen," said Chad Brown, a commissioner who opposes the mine.
Phillips, Piedmont's CEO, gave the company's first presentation on the proposed project to commissioners on Tuesday night
"We haven't done a good job - and I blame myself - engaging with the community," Phillips said at the nearly three-hour-long meeting, which was webcast. One commissioner told Phillips it likely will be easier for the company to raise the necessary $840 million for the project than it will be to secure community support.

State officials added their review process could stretch for more than a year as they solicit comments from at least six other state and federal agencies.
"I'm not even going to accept an application from Piedmont for rezoning until they have their state permit in hand," said Brian Sciba, director of Gaston County's planning and zoning office.

'MINE AROUND MY PROPERTY'
While some landowners are prepared to sell if the offer is enticing enough, others say Piedmont has bullied them.
"They told me that if I don't sell, they'll just mine around my property," said Emilie Nelson, whose 14 acres Piedmont has tried to buy since 2017.

[URL unfurl="true"]https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/push-supply-tesla-piedmont-lithium-110643209.html[/URL]

<blockquote data-quote="Beaches" data-source="post: 1129133" data-attributes="member: 81677">If this story is true (and there seems no reason to doubt it) why would anyone trust them to execute any better in the future?GASTON COUNTY, N.C. (Reuters) -In its quest to build one of the largest lithium mines in the United States, Piedmont Lithium Inc has overlooked one crucial constituency: its North Carolina neighbors.
Piedmont last autumn signed a deal to supply U.S. electric automaker Tesla Inc with lithium sourced from its deposits in North Carolina, sending the company&#039;s stock up tenfold.
Piedmont has also hired investment banks to find investors for its $840 million project, which would include an open-air pit more than 500 feet (152 m) deep and facilities to produce lithium-based electric vehicle (EV) battery chemicals.

The company, however, has not applied for a state mining permit or a necessary zoning variance in Gaston County, just west of Charlotte, despite telling investors since 2018 that it was on the verge of doing so.

Five of the seven members of the county&#039;s board of commissioners, who control zoning changes, say they may block or delay the project because Piedmont has not told them what levels of dust, noise and vibrations will occur, nor how water and air quality would be affected.
&quot;Piedmont has sort of put the proverbial cart before the horse,&quot; said Tom Keigher, chair of the board of commissioners. &quot;Why in the world would they make this deal with Tesla before they even have approval for the mine?&quot;

&quot;We finally have a project to debut and really talk about,&quot; said Keith Phillips, Piedmont&#039;s chief executive officer.
&quot;Maybe it would have been better had (commissioners) been in the loop constantly. We didn&#039;t really have the time or resources to do it and we didn&#039;t even know what to tell them, until now.&quot;

In September 2018, Piedmont told investors it expected to obtain permits by the end of 2019. In August 2019, executives said they would apply for permits and rezoning &quot;in the coming months.&quot;

Piedmont said both times it was &quot;not aware&quot; of any reason why the county would not approve zoning changes, even though it had yet to present any information to commissioners. In December, Piedmont said it expected to receive local zoning approval before the end of June.


Piedmont had been set to meet with commissioners in March, but canceled with three days&#039; notice, further straining the relationship. Piedmont said it canceled that meeting in order to further refine its plans.
&quot;This has been the worst rollout of a project from a company I&#039;ve ever seen,&quot; said Chad Brown, a commissioner who opposes the mine.
Phillips, Piedmont&#039;s CEO, gave the company&#039;s first presentation on the proposed project to commissioners on Tuesday night
&quot;We haven&#039;t done a good job - and I blame myself - engaging with the community,&quot; Phillips said at the nearly three-hour-long meeting, which was webcast. One commissioner told Phillips it likely will be easier for the company to raise the necessary $840 million for the project than it will be to secure community support.


State officials added their review process could stretch for more than a year as they solicit comments from at least six other state and federal agencies.
&quot;I&#039;m not even going to accept an application from Piedmont for rezoning until they have their state permit in hand,&quot; said Brian Sciba, director of Gaston County&#039;s planning and zoning office.

&#039;MINE AROUND MY PROPERTY&#039;
While some landowners are prepared to sell if the offer is enticing enough, others say Piedmont has bullied them.
&quot;They told me that if I don&#039;t sell, they&#039;ll just mine around my property,&quot; said Emilie Nelson, whose 14 acres Piedmont has tried to buy since 2017.[URL unfurl=&quot;true&quot;]https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/push-supply-tesla-piedmont-lithium-110643209.html[/URL]</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Beaches, post: 1129133, member: 81677"] If this story is true (and there seems no reason to doubt it) why would anyone trust them to execute any better in the future? [INDENT=3][I]GASTON COUNTY, N.C. (Reuters) -In its quest to build one of the largest lithium mines in the United States, Piedmont Lithium Inc has overlooked one crucial constituency: its North Carolina neighbors.[/I][/INDENT] [INDENT=3][I]Piedmont last autumn signed a deal to supply U.S. electric automaker Tesla Inc with lithium sourced from its deposits in North Carolina, sending the company's stock up tenfold.[/I][/INDENT] [INDENT=3][I]Piedmont has also hired investment banks to find investors for its $840 million project, which would include an open-air pit more than 500 feet (152 m) deep and facilities to produce lithium-based electric vehicle (EV) battery chemicals.[/I][/INDENT] [INDENT=3][I][/I][/INDENT] [INDENT=3][I]The company, however, has not applied for a state mining permit or a necessary zoning variance in Gaston County, just west of Charlotte, despite telling investors since 2018 that it was on the verge of doing so.[/I][/INDENT] [INDENT=3][I][/I][/INDENT] [INDENT=3][I]Five of the seven members of the county's board of commissioners, who control zoning changes, say they may block or delay the project because Piedmont has not told them what levels of dust, noise and vibrations will occur, nor how water and air quality would be affected.[/I][/INDENT] [INDENT=3][I]"Piedmont has sort of put the proverbial cart before the horse," said Tom Keigher, chair of the board of commissioners. "Why in the world would they make this deal with Tesla before they even have approval for the mine?"[/I][/INDENT] [INDENT=3][I][/I][/INDENT] [INDENT=3][I]"We finally have a project to debut and really talk about," said Keith Phillips, Piedmont's chief executive officer.[/I][/INDENT] [INDENT=3][I]"Maybe it would have been better had (commissioners) been in the loop constantly. We didn't really have the time or resources to do it and we didn't even know what to tell them, until now."[/I][/INDENT] [INDENT=3][I][/I][/INDENT] [INDENT=3][I]In September 2018, Piedmont told investors it expected to obtain permits by the end of 2019. In August 2019, executives said they would apply for permits and rezoning "in the coming months."[/I][/INDENT] [INDENT=3][I][/I][/INDENT] [INDENT=3][I]Piedmont said both times it was "not aware" of any reason why the county would not approve zoning changes, even though it had yet to present any information to commissioners. In December, Piedmont said it expected to receive local zoning approval before the end of June.[/I][/INDENT] [INDENT=3][I][/I][/INDENT] [INDENT=3][I][/I][/INDENT] [INDENT=3][I]Piedmont had been set to meet with commissioners in March, but canceled with three days' notice, further straining the relationship. Piedmont said it canceled that meeting in order to further refine its plans.[/I][/INDENT] [INDENT=3][I]"This has been the worst rollout of a project from a company I've ever seen," said Chad Brown, a commissioner who opposes the mine.[/I][/INDENT] [INDENT=3][I]Phillips, Piedmont's CEO, gave the company's first presentation on the proposed project to commissioners on Tuesday night[/I][/INDENT] [INDENT=3][I]"We haven't done a good job - and I blame myself - engaging with the community," Phillips said at the nearly three-hour-long meeting, which was webcast. One commissioner told Phillips it likely will be easier for the company to raise the necessary $840 million for the project than it will be to secure community support.[/I][/INDENT] [INDENT=3][I][/I][/INDENT] [INDENT=3][I][/I][/INDENT] [INDENT=3][I]State officials added their review process could stretch for more than a year as they solicit comments from at least six other state and federal agencies.[/I][/INDENT] [INDENT=3][I]"I'm not even going to accept an application from Piedmont for rezoning until they have their state permit in hand," said Brian Sciba, director of Gaston County's planning and zoning office.[/I][/INDENT] [INDENT=3][I][/I][/INDENT] [INDENT=3][I]'MINE AROUND MY PROPERTY'[/I][/INDENT] [INDENT=3][I]While some landowners are prepared to sell if the offer is enticing enough, others say Piedmont has bullied them.[/I][/INDENT] [INDENT=3][I]"They told me that if I don't sell, they'll just mine around my property," said Emilie Nelson, whose 14 acres Piedmont has tried to buy since 2017.[/I][/INDENT] [URL unfurl="true"]https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/push-supply-tesla-piedmont-lithium-110643209.html[/URL] [/QUOTE]

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