Nevada may soon lead the nation in powering electric vehicles—not just by building them, but by digging up what makes them go.
At the center of it all is lithium. This mineral is key for making batteries used in electric cars and energy storage. And Nevada happens to have a lot of it. But getting it out of the ground isn’t easy, thanks to layers of government rules that slow things down.
Now, conservatives in Nevada are stepping in to change that.
A Summit Sparks Change
Back in September 2024, Governor Joe Lombardo hosted the first-ever Nevada Lithium Summit at Lake Tahoe. It brought together miners, lawmakers, and business leaders to talk about how to make Nevada the country’s top lithium producer.
Fast forward to July 31, 2025. A follow-up meeting in Reno focused on one big thing: cutting red tape. According to the Reno Gazette-Journal, participants said the state’s permitting process is too much like the federal government’s—slow, expensive, and full of hoops to jump through.
“We need to stop copying Washington’s mistakes,” said Republican State Senator Pete Goicoechea. “Nevada should lead with a faster, smarter way to get things done.”
Why Lithium Matters
Right now, Nevada has the only active lithium mine in the country—Silver Peak. But bigger projects like Thacker Pass and Rhyolite Ridge are on the way.
Thacker Pass, for example, is the largest known lithium deposit in North America. A University of Nevada study says it could pump over $1 billion into the state’s economy every year. Rhyolite Ridge just got its final green light in late 2024 and is expected to supply lithium to big automakers like Ford.
Supporters say more mining means more jobs, more tax revenue, and less dependence on countries like China. In 2019, the mining industry paid $55 million in taxes in Nevada. In 2021, it voluntarily added $20 million more to support education.
But long waits for permits are holding projects back. The Rhyolite Ridge mine took six years just to get the OK to start construction.
Conservatives Say Enough Is Enough
Conservative lawmakers and business leaders argue that trimming state regulations would help projects move faster without sacrificing safety. They want to simplify the rules around water use, wildlife protection, and land permits—all of which often duplicate what the federal government already requires.
This effort ties in with a bigger push from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a Trump-era federal office aimed at reducing bureaucratic red tape nationwide. DOGE has been calling out federal agencies for years, saying they slow down progress with outdated rules.
Governor Lombardo even asked President Trump earlier this year to scrap tariffs on lithium imports, warning that they could hurt Nevada’s edge in the global market.
What Happens Next?
Nevada’s Department of Business and Industry is now reviewing ideas from the summit. They’re expected to bring a plan to the 2026 legislative session that could include:
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Faster timelines for permits
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Lower costs for compliance
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Clearer rules for environmental checks
The goal is to make Nevada more attractive to investors while still protecting the land and water.
Not Everyone Agrees
Some environmental and tribal groups worry about the risks. They’re concerned about water use, damage to wildlife, and sacred land being disturbed.
For example, the Rhyolite Ridge project has drawn criticism over Tiehm’s buckwheat, a rare wildflower that grows nearby. Lawsuits have already been filed to try and stop construction.
But conservatives argue that new mining tech and smart planning can balance both sides. They say the bigger risk is letting government regulations chase away good jobs and clean energy progress.
Why It Matters
For conservatives, this fight is about more than just lithium. It’s about freedom, jobs, and keeping America strong.
They believe Nevada can lead the way in building a homegrown battery industry—without waiting on Washington or bowing to overseas suppliers. That means more jobs for Nevadans, more tax money for schools and roads, and a stronger national defense.
As one local official put it during the Reno meeting: “We’re not just digging up rocks. We’re digging up opportunity.”
Whether national news picks up the story or not, this could become a roadmap for other states tired of waiting for permission to grow. And if things go as planned, Nevada might just show the rest of the country how to power the future—faster and freer.
