Nevada’s ‘white gold’ rush

Nevada's 'white gold' rush

Stories by Alan Halaly • Imagery by L.E. Baskow

Las Vegas Review-Journal

All roads lead to Thacker Pass to solidify Nevada as the country’s leader in supplying domestic lithium batteries. Two dozen miles south of the Oregon state line, construction of a mine is well underway — but not without years of pushback from Native American tribes, ranchers and environmentalists. In this six-part species series, hear from frontline Nevada communities that are bearing the brunt of the country’s clean energy future.

READ THE FULL SERIES BELOW

PART 1

A mining town’s polluted past

The fading town of McDermitt, northeast of the Thacker Pass lithium mine, was once a mercury boomtown. Mining left the town polluted and kept taxpayers on the hook for the cleanup. The scars of mining endure in this tiny Nevada town.

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PART 2

Nevada goes all in on ‘white gold’

American taxpayers now own a stake in one of the most contested mines in U.S. history. As Nevada bets big on lithium mining through historic investments, the economics of lithium tell a more volatile story.

READ PART 2

PART 3

At the fence line

Opposition to Thacker Pass isn’t just coming from Native Americans. In the desert ranching community of Orovada, some ranchers with properties that abut the mine are less than thrilled about what the project means for their futures.