Why It Matters

A1 Lithium Inc. has filed a lobbying registration disclosure with federal authorities, retaining Bennett Consulting Group to represent it on energy and defense issues. The registration, filed in May 2026 and signed June 9, marks the company's first recorded federal lobbying activity.

A1 Lithium is entering the federal lobbying arena at a moment of heightened congressional interest in domestic critical minerals production. The company, based in Green River, Utah, is now formally positioned to engage policymakers on energy and defense policy. As a first-time entrant into lobbying, the registration signals a strategic decision to pursue a Washington presence directly.

By The Numbers

The lobbying registration disclosure lists no financial amount for the filing period, as is typical for new client registrations. Three lobbyists from Bennett Consulting Group are assigned to the account:

  • Steve Petersen, President, who previously staffed the House Natural Resources Committee during the 115th and 116th Congresses and worked for Rep. James Hansen (R-UT-1) and Rep. Rob Bishop (R-UT-1)
  • Ken Lee, Managing Partner
  • Dan Simmons, Partner

Petersen's committee background is notable given that natural resources and public lands jurisdiction are directly relevant to lithium extraction operations.

The Agenda

The lobbying filing lists two broad issue codes: Energy/Nuclear and Defense. No specific legislation or granular issue descriptions are included in the disclosure. The registration does not name any bills A1 Lithium intends to lobby on, though relevant legislation exists across both issue areas in the current Congress.

Broader Context

Congressional interest in domestic lithium and critical minerals has grown considerably. Rep. Burgess Owens (R-UT-4) named A1 Lithium directly in a March 2026 post, saying the company's Green River operations represent a model for domestic supply chain security.

"We should not have to go to countries that hate us to secure our critical minerals," Owens wrote, adding that he was "grateful to see businesses like A1 Lithium in Green River and their work in helping America secure our critical mineral demands."

That public endorsement came roughly ten weeks before the company signed its lobbying agreement with Bennett Consulting Group, suggesting A1 Lithium already had visibility with Utah's delegation before formally entering the lobbying arena.

Other members of Utah's congressional delegation have also weighed in on the broader issue. Rep. Blake Moore (R-UT-1) noted in May 2026 that critical minerals "are used for everything from electronics to energy production, medical devices and treatments, and the defense technology that keeps our military the best in the world," adding that "many of these minerals are extracted right here in Utah." Sen. John Curtis (R-UT) has also flagged China's dependence on critical minerals as "an economic and national security risk."

Between the Lines

The dual issue codes, Energy/Nuclear and Defense, suggest A1 Lithium may be positioning itself across multiple policy conversations simultaneously. The defense angle is particularly relevant given ongoing congressional scrutiny of foreign-controlled mineral supply chains.

Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) referenced a Utah clay deposit in December 2025 that a company described as potentially "the most significant critical minerals site in the U.S.," sharing a Wall Street Journal report on the find. The senator did not name A1 Lithium directly.

Rep. Owens has made multiple site visits to Utah mining operations over the past year, including a July 2025 visit to Bingham Canyon Mine, where he noted that "nearly 30 of the 50 most critical minerals are produced right here in Utah," and an August 2025 visit to Tintic Consolidated Metals.

The Bottom Line

A1 Lithium's federal lobbying registration disclosure represents a first step into Washington policy engagement for the Green River-based company. The team at Bennett Consulting Group brings relevant Hill experience, particularly through Petersen's background on the House Natural Resources Committee. The lobbying activity report covers broad issue areas without naming specific legislation, leaving the precise scope of the company's federal agenda to be defined in future quarterly filings.

Access the Legis1 platform for comprehensive political news, data, and insights.