Nevada’s Role in the EV and Battery Supply Chain Goes Beyond Auto Assembly
ZETA Staff
In March 2025, the ZETA Education Fund hosted a two-day event in Reno, Nevada, bringing together federal, state, and local leaders to discuss the significant EV and battery supply chain investments that are creating jobs and economic opportunities in the region.
Nevada finds itself as a key cog in the American EV and battery supply chain. With the largest currently known source of lithium in the country—19 times more than the next state on the list—Nevada is unique. As Dr. Jeffery Thompson, Executive Vice President and Provost at the University of Nevada, Reno said:
“We call this part of Nevada the Lithium Loop, because within 250 miles of Reno, Nevada, you can mine the materials, extract it, process it, produce EVs and batteries, and recycle it, all in the same area.”
During the two-day event, the ZETA Education Fund team, along with our partners, hosted three site tours of Panasonic Energy of North America, Redwood Materials, and the Lithium Americas Technical Center. The tours provided attendees with the unique opportunity to see the industry’s work in action throughout the supply chain and ask questions about future growth in Nevada.
In addition to touring these facilities, the event also included two days of programming: a session at the University of Nevada, Reno, and panels at Redwood Material’s headquarters.
Key highlights included:
- A panel featuring Congressman Mark Amodei (NV-02); Redwood Materials Founder and CEO JB Straubel; and Panasonic Energy of North America President Allan Swan; moderated by Nevada Governor's Office of Economic Development Executive Director Tom Burns.
- Remarks by Dr. Jeffery Thompson, Executive Vice President and Provost at the University of Nevada, Reno, followed by an academic panel featuring leading faculty.
- A local business panel, moderated by Ann Silver, CEO of the Reno + Sparks Chamber of Commerce, featuring City of Sparks Mayor Ed Lawson; Chris Reilly, State Infrastructure Coordinator in the Office of the Governor; Suzanne Groneman, Environmental Services Manager for the City of Reno; and Ryan Bellows, Vice President, Government & External Relations at NV Energy.
Impactful Messaging
“Panasonic Energy is proud to drive economic growth in Nevada, where we employ more than 4,200 production and support workers. We're also working with key partners like Redwood Materials to strengthen the state’s role as a hub for advanced manufacturing and next generation technology.
“We appreciate the support of policymakers like Governor Lombardo, Representative Amodei, and Senators Cortez-Masto and Rosen, who, along with local leaders, are striving to make every stage of the EV supply chain in Nevada a reality.”
- Allan Swan, President, Panasonic Energy of North America
“We are working a lot with some of the technical colleges and universities, we’re hiring a bunch of great engineers and folks in operations all across the business, to build and scale the US battery supply chain here in America for the first time.”
- Alexis Georgeson, VP Government Relations & Communications, Redwood Materials
“A lot of people are talking about the future of the industry, and the future of EVs. Well it’s now, it’s here. This is working. Let’s make sure it keeps working, keeps growing, and keeps providing the success stories that it has for Western Nevada.”
- U.S. Representative Mark Amodei (NV-02)
“We’ve given great tax abatements to many of the companies that have put millions of dollars into their facilities here, and they have created a massive number of jobs.”
- Ann Silver, CEO of the Reno + Sparks Chamber of Commerce
“Really excited about the pace of growth, the things that it’s doing for our economy in this region.”
- Dr. Jeffrey Alexander, VP of Academic Affairs, Truckee Meadows Community College
“We have the only operating lithium mine in the country currently. Nevada’s has really got the potential to be a world class leader in lithium production.”
- Drew McGregor, Communications Manager, Nevada Mining Association
“Nevada just has so many natural minerals, and our location is beautiful, being really close to Silicon Valley.”
- Nicole Kelleher, Energy Program Manager, Office of the Governor
The Nevada Independent’s reporting on the event can be found here.
Interested in learning more about what you can do to help strengthen Nevada’s supply chain? Learn more here.
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National policies to support the electric vehicle supply chain.
