Industry Leaders Gather in Reno This Week
Republican Governor Joe Lombardo is hosting Nevada’s second annual Lithium Summit in Reno this week, with Day 2 wrapping up today. This isn’t your typical government conference. It’s a real example of how conservative leadership can grow jobs and strengthen America’s position in the world.
The two-day “Elements of Change: Lithium & Strategic Minerals Forum” brought together industry leaders, government officials, researchers, and entrepreneurs who are actively shaping America’s energy future. Unlike Washington’s endless talk, this summit focuses on getting things done right now.
The summit showcases Nevada’s unique position as the only state in the nation with a complete “Lithium Loop” from mining and processing to battery manufacturing and recycling. That’s not just talk – it’s happening today in the Silver State.
Why This Matters to Conservatives
Here’s the simple truth: America has been way too dependent on China for the materials we need. As of 2021, almost all the lithium used in the US is imported, which the Department of Energy says is a “strategic vulnerability”. That’s dangerous for our national security.
Nevada is changing that story. Nevada boasts the largest-known lithium deposits in North America, positioning our state as a key player in both national and global supply chains. Governor Lombardo gets it.
The Governor said:
“Nevada boasts the largest-known lithium deposits in North America, positioning our state as a key player in both national and global supply chains. We have an historic opportunity in our backyard.”
This is about more than mining rocks. Nevada has what experts call a complete “Lithium Loop.” That means everything from digging it out of the ground to making batteries to recycling them. No other state can do that.
Real Jobs for Real People
The numbers speak for themselves. The project, when completed, could supply enough lithium to power nearly 370,000 electric vehicles annually. The recently approved Rhyolite Ridge mine alone will create up to 500 workers during construction and about 350 workers during operations. The company expects to generate an estimated $125 million in wages annually during the life of the mine.
These aren’t minimum wage jobs. Proponents of the mine have stated that the project is necessary to limit climate change by reducing carbon emissions from American cars, is benign in its social and environmental impact, and will create 300 long-term jobs in rural Nevada, paying an average of $63,000 per year.
Small towns like Tonopah are seeing new life. Hundreds of millions of federal dollars are flowing into projects to extract lithium for electric car batteries from the nearby desert, where two new plants are expected to create around 500 permanent jobs. This is what happens when government gets out of the way and lets business work.
The Conservative Approach Works
What makes Governor Lombardo different? He’s not picking winners and losers. He’s creating conditions for business to succeed. As governor, Lombardo has made efforts to diversify the state’s economy, such as by approving tax abatements for Tesla’s multibillion-dollar expansion in Northern Nevada and pushing lithium production.
This isn’t big government spending. It’s smart tax policy that lets companies keep more of what they earn when they create jobs in Nevada. The Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development this week approved $330 million in tax incentives for the facility, in exchange for a promise from the company to invest $3.6 billion in it over 10 years.
The results prove the approach works. Nevada expects the lithium industry to grow by five times by 2030, representing tens of thousands of jobs at different points of the lithium supply chain, from mining to processing.
What the Other Side Is Saying
Not everyone is happy about Nevada’s success. The usual suspects are trying to stop progress.
Environmental groups like the Center for Biological Diversity are suing to block the Rhyolite Ridge mine. They claim it will hurt an endangered flower called Tiehm’s buckwheat. Environmental groups, including the Center for Biological Diversity, argue that mining operations will further endanger the species, potentially driving it to extinction.
Native American tribes are also fighting back. Five tribal governments opposed the massive Thacker Pass project. Lithium Americas and General Motors, the companies developing the mine, moved forward despite opposition from at least five Tribal governments. They say the land is sacred and that the Bureau of Land Management, the government agency responsible for managing federal land, permitted the Thacker Pass mine in northern Nevada without obtaining the free, prior, and informed consent of Indigenous people.
The Biden administration made things worse by piling on environmental red tape. Even when they approved projects, they loaded them up with costly restrictions that slow everything down and drive up costs for American workers and families.
Looking Ahead
The industry has strong support from both parties in Nevada, but that could change.
The real test comes in Washington. In the U.S., mining is governed by the Mining Law of 1872, which made:
“all valuable mineral deposits in lands belonging to the United States … free and open to exploration and purchase.”
That old law gives mining companies strong rights, but environmental groups want to change it.
There are signs the lithium boom could spread beyond Nevada. As of September 2024, in the United States, there are eight active lithium mines with eleven projects delayed indefinitely or cancelled and fifty-one separate project proposals lie in the exploration or development stages.
What Conservatives Can Do
Governor Lombardo shows the path forward. Support leaders who understand that American energy security starts with American resources. Back candidates who will streamline regulations without throwing out environmental protections.
“Streamlining the processes for companies to get up and be operational would be huge,” said Bob Potts, deputy director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development.
Nevada proves conservative principles work. Limited government that gets out of the way. Tax policies that reward job creation. Leaders who put America first. The Silver State is showing the rest of the country how it’s done.
The future of American energy independence might just start in the Nevada desert. And that’s something every conservative can get behind.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
