Part 4: Digging Deep, Nevada’s Mining Lobby Hold

Like gaming’s casino kings, mining lobbyists play a gritty game, rooted in Nevada’s veins of gold and lithium. They’ve shaped policies that keep the state a top U.S. producer, but at what environmental and taxpayer cost?

Nevada mines over 80% of U.S. gold, and lobbyists ensure it stays that way. In 2019, they funneled $234,250 into campaigns, squashing a tax increase bill by highlighting 14,000 jobs at stake. Fast forward, with Biden’s green push, they’ve lobbied for eased federal permits, securing spots in the Thacker Pass lithium mine amid EV boom.

Real tale: Back in the 1990s, mining firms lobbied against strict reclamation laws, arguing costs would shutter operations in Elko County. They won modifications, preserving rural economies. From our standpoint, this defends property rights and energy independence, especially with China’s lithium grip.

But shadows lurk: Lobbying has delayed reforms on water usage in drought-hit Nevada. One miner confided, “We lobby to survive, but it’s a fine line before it becomes entitlement.”

This resource focus leads to energy. Next, see how utility lobbyists craft policies on solar and grids, impacting your monthly bill and national grids. It’s charged with drama, building on these industry patterns.

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