(The Center Square) — Maine lawmakers are wrangling along party lines over proposals to restrict or expand lithium mining in western Maine, with the valuable metal in high demand for rechargeable batteries and high-tech gadgets.

Last year, the Democratic-controlled Legislature approved a raft of bills to update mining laws in the state, prompted by the discovery of one of the world’s largest lithium deposits in the western Maine town of Newry. However, lawmakers are looking to make changes to Maine’s Metallic Mineral Mining Act and subsequent regulations adopted by state environmental regulators.