On Tuesday, Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo (R) and Congressman Mark Amodei (R) toured a new workforce housing hub in Winnemucca. This isn’t just any construction site – it’s a big deal for Nevada’s economy and America’s energy future.
What’s Happening
The Workforce Housing Hub will house nearly 2,000 workers who will build the Thacker Pass lithium mine. Both the Congressman and the Governor got a tour from Lithium Americas, looking at the construction site where 755 interlocking housing modules will be assembled to create the facility.
To start the tour, both officials joined folks in a trailer to get an update of the mine at Thacker Pass and for a quick safety briefing before heading out to the hub.
Today, @MarkAmodeiNV2 and I visited the Lithium America Workforce Housing Hub in Winnemucca. The Thacker Pass project is one of the most significant industrial and economic development initiatives in rural Nevada. It represents a $3 billion investment in our state’s future! pic.twitter.com/3rTMjobxt2
— Governor Joe Lombardo (@JosephMLombardo) March 19, 2025
On Friday, the Governor shared a video message explaining the importance of the project.
Why This Matters to Nevadans
The Thacker Pass lithium mine, located in Humboldt County, is one of the largest lithium deposits in the U.S. and is critical for battery production in electric vehicles and renewable energy.
Governor Lombardo described it as:
“a nice respectable quality living space for a mine that’s going to produce a significant amount of labor hours and workforce and resources that are going to come out of Humboldt County.”
When the construction of phase 1 is completed, the Thacker Pass mine is expected to sustain over 350 permanent jobs.
What Makes This Special
Congressman Amodei noted that less than 1% of the world’s lithium supply currently comes from the U.S., but Thacker Pass will change that significantly.
The project’s first phase is expected to produce about 40,000 metric tons of lithium carbonate yearly – enough to supply batteries for approximately 800,000 electric vehicles.
When completed, Thacker Pass would be the largest lithium mine in the United States. The U.S. Department of Energy finalized a $2.26 billion loan for Lithium Americas to build the mine, making it one of Washington’s largest mining industry investments.
What Critics Say
The project hasn’t been without controversy. Some Native American tribes and environmentalists have raised concerns that the open-pit mine will harm wildlife habitats, degrade groundwater and pollute the air in the remote region.
But others support the project. “Thacker Pass will provide important economic and employment opportunities for members of our tribe,” said Larina Bell, the acting chair of the Fort McDermitt Paiute Shoshone Tribe.
Supporters argue that domestic lithium production is essential for reducing dependence on foreign supplies for the growing electric vehicle industry.
What’s Next for Nevada
In his video message, Governor Lombardo explained:
“We are closing the ‘lithium loop.’ We are bringing all the ideas and the processes involved with lithium and the expansion of mining in the state of Nevada all together under one platform here at Lithium Americas.”
This “lithium loop” means Nevada can be part of the entire process – from mining the raw materials to processing them for use in batteries and other technologies.
According to Jonathan Evans, CEO of Lithium Americas:
“We’ve got over 100 workers now, but nearing the second quarter we’ll be nearing 350 and then we’ll march forward.”
The company expects to begin pouring concrete foundations in the coming months.
Governor Lombardo seems excited about what this means for Nevada’s economy. He mentioned that there will be another lithium summit later in 2025 where they can “talk about all the success we had along the way.”
What You Can Do
If you live in Humboldt County, keep an eye on job postings from Lithium Americas and their contractors. The company is actively looking to hire Nevadans for many positions.
For business owners in Winnemucca, prepare for growth! As Governor Lombardo noted, this project:
“could help with local retail, recreation, and restaurants for the city, as well as more future permanent housing.”
As the Governor put it:
“Do yourself a favor, survey it, get to know about it, and appreciate what we are achieving here in the great state of Nevada.”
Watch the Governor’s video message here:
In Nevada, we’re closing the lithium loop, and a critical component is the people. On Tuesday, @MarkAmodeiNV2 and I toured Lithium America’s Workforce Housing Hub in Winnemucca. It will house 2,000 workers for Thacker Pass, employ Nevadans, & alleviate strain on local resources. pic.twitter.com/CQbgpwoDVv
— Governor Joe Lombardo (@JosephMLombardo) March 21, 2025
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
