Construction of the Thacker Pass Lithium Mine, the largest active lithium development in the United States, reached a new milestone on Tuesday, November 11, 2025 as Emerson announced it will provide advanced automation and control technology for the project’s processing facilities in northern Nevada.
The collaboration, unveiled on November 11, represents a key advance in Lithium Americas Corp.’s multi-billion-dollar effort to establish the nation’s first major domestic source of battery-grade lithium carbonate for electric vehicles and grid storage systems. Emerson’s automation platform will integrate real-time monitoring and control across the mine and chemical processing plant, designed to improve reliability, energy efficiency, and worker safety as construction accelerates.
Construction Progress
Located in Humboldt County, near the Oregon border, Thacker Pass has been under active construction since 2024.
As of late 2025, detailed engineering is approximately 70 percent complete, and excavation of the processing-plant area is roughly 90 percent finished, according to project updates.
Major concrete work is ongoing, with steel installation scheduled to continue into 2026.
A dedicated construction workforce hub, including modular housing, utilities, and supporting infrastructure, is nearing completion and will accommodate up to 2,000 workers at peak activity.
Once operational, Phase 1 of Thacker Pass is expected to support about 360 full-time positions.
Scale, Cost, and Funding
The Thacker Pass development is structured in multiple phases. Phase 1 targets annual production of 40,000 metric tons of battery-grade lithium carbonate, with potential expansion in later phases to as much as 160,000 tons per year.
Phase 1 carries an estimated cost of $2.93 billion, supported by a $2.26 billion loan from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing (ATVM) program, finalized in 2024.
Private capital from Lithium Americas Corp. (62 percent ownership) and General Motors Co. (38 percent) provides additional project equity and offtake financing under a long-term supply agreement.
The Thacker Pass Lithium Mine is part of a growing list of U.S. lithium projects aimed at strengthening national security; recently, American Battery Technology Company (ABTC) announced it had completed all required federal baseline environmental studies for its Tonopah Flats Lithium Project (TFLP), also in Nevada.
The project will create around 1,800 construction jobs and 360 permanent operations jobs, supporting the Biden administration’s goal of using the clean-energy transition to generate economic opportunity across U.S. industrial regions.
Project Factsheet: Thacker Pass Lithium Mine
Project Overview
Phase 1 lithium mine development in Humboldt County, Nevada
Owned by Lithium Americas Corp. (62%) and General Motors (38%)
Latest milestone: Emerson automation contract announced November 11, 2025
Largest known lithium deposit in the United States
Capacity and Cost
Phase 1 production: 40,000 metric tons/year battery-grade lithium carbonate
Future expansion potential: Up to 160,000 metric tons/year
Total Phase 1 cost: $2.93 billion
DOE ATVM loan: $2.26 billion (finalized 2024)
Employment
Construction jobs (peak): 1,800 workers
Permanent operations: 360 positions
On-site housing for up to 2,000 workers
Construction Status (Late 2025)
Engineering: 70% complete
Plant excavation: 90% complete
Concrete work: Ongoing
Steel installation: Through 2026
Milestones
Q1 2024: Initial site preparation and early earthworks begin
Q4 2024: DOE loan finalized; procurement packages awarded
Q2 2025: Concrete placement and foundation work advance
Q4 2025: Emerson selected to deliver automation and control systems
2026: Structural steel and major equipment installation
Late 2027: Mechanical completion and initial commissioning of Phase 1
2028: Expected start of lithium carbonate production
Strategic and Environmental Context
Thacker Pass contains the largest known lithium resource in the United States and is considered a cornerstone of the federal strategy to strengthen domestic supply chains for electric-vehicle batteries and grid-scale storage.
The U.S. Department of Energy has described the project as “strategically essential to building a resilient clean-energy materials base.”
The development continues under regulatory oversight by Nevada authorities, which monitor groundwater, reclamation, and wildlife impacts.
Lithium Americas has committed to closed-loop water-recycling systems and progressive land restoration to limit long-term disturbance, while community and tribal organizations maintain active engagement through state-led consultations.
Outlook
With Emerson’s automation systems now being integrated, construction is on pace toward late-2027 mechanical completion.
Once fully operational, Thacker Pass would rank among North America’s largest lithium-producing facilities, reinforcing U.S. efforts to onshore critical-minerals production and accelerate the clean-energy transition.
