Washington Secures Minority Stake in Lithium Giant Thacker Pass
Washington doubles down on lithium independence with a bold equity stake in Nevada’s Thacker Pass project.

The United States government has moved deeper into the strategic minerals market, taking a 5% equity stake in Lithium Americas, the Vancouver-based company developing Thacker Pass in northern Nevada. This project, already in partnership with General Motors, is poised to become one of the world’s largest lithium mines. The Department of Energy confirmed it will also take a 5% stake in the Thacker Pass operation itself, tying federal interests directly to the mine’s production.
Thacker Pass is expected to yield 40,000 metric tons of battery-grade lithium carbonate annually in its first phase, enough to power 800,000 electric vehicles. GM has pledged nearly $1 billion to support the project, which holds reserves sufficient to produce lithium for up to a million EVs each year. With China dominating global lithium processing, the Biden and Trump administrations alike have sought to secure domestic supply chains. Thacker Pass now represents the centerpiece of U.S. ambitions to catch up.
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright called the deal a necessary step in reducing dependence on “foreign adversaries” for critical minerals. Lithium is the lifeblood of modern technology, found in everything from smartphones to renewable energy storage systems. Until now, America’s contribution to global lithium supply has been negligible, less than one percent. This stake signals Washington’s intent to reverse that imbalance.
