Lithium Americas (NYSE: LAC) jumped 23.3% overnight to $7.04 after confirming the US Department of Energy (DOE) had taken a 5% equity stake in both the company and the joint venture developing the Thacker Pass lithium project in Nevada alongside General Motors (GM).The agreement unlocks the first $435 million drawdown from the DOE’s previously announced US$2.3 billion loan, while also permitting the JV to enter into new third-party offtake agreements for lithium not contracted to GM.CEO Jonathan Evans highl ...