The memorandum of understanding sets the groundwork to advance the U.S. lithium supply chain
FARGO, N.D. (November 24, 2025) — Packet Digital has taken another decisive step toward reshoring America’s battery supply chain. The company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with LibertyStream, in partnership with Wellspring Hydro, to collaborate on lithium carbonate sourcing for its upcoming battery cell manufacturing facility in Fargo, North Dakota. This agreement marks a critical milestone in Packet Digital’s mission to build a vertically integrated, NDAA-compliant supply chain for drone and autonomous system batteries — right here in the United States.
Wellspring Hydro, a North Dakota-based innovator, is pioneering lithium extraction from oilfield brine — saline water co-produced during oil recovery. Under the MOU, Packet Digital will share its technical specifications for lithium-ion battery cell production, while Wellspring Hydro will provide data on the quality and scalability of lithium recovery from regional brine sources. The collaboration supports Packet Digital’s construction of the Badland Batteries cell manufacturing facility, slated to open in 2026. As global tensions and sourcing restrictions intensify — especially around Chinese-made drone components — this partnership reflects the urgency and foresight required to secure America’s energy future.
“Packet Digital is committed to rebuilding a supply chain long dominated by overseas manufacturers,” said Terri Zimmerman, CEO of Packet Digital. “The Badland Batteries cell plant is a bold investment in U.S. manufacturing, and this MOU with LibertyStream and Wellspring Hydro strengthens our ability to deliver American-made batteries with American-sourced materials.”
This agreement reinforces Packet Digital’s leadership in building trusted, traceable, and resilient supply chains for the national defense and aerospace industry. By securing domestic sources of critical materials and forging strategic partnerships, Packet Digital is helping redefine what secure sourcing looks like in the energy storage sector. This MOU signals a broader shift: from dependency to domestic capability, and from fragmented sourcing to unified, American-made strength.