Tonopah Eyes Mining and Energy Boom, Fueled by Critical Minerals Rush

Tonopah town manager Joe Westerlund does not mince words about what he sees happening in his community of roughly 2,000 people. "I feel like we're in a boom right now, at the beginning of it," he said, pointing to an array of mining and energy projects converging on the vast desert outside town.

The optimism has tangible roots. A new lithium and boron mine is set to start construction this year. Geothermal company Zanskar recently discovered an impressive reserve of heat deep underground near Tonopah and has plans for a new power plant nearby. To the south, near Goldfield, a separate gold mine is preparing to open in 2028.

Rising precious metal prices are adding fuel. Gold and silver prices have been soaring over the past year, making extraction projects in central Nevada increasingly attractive to investors and developers. Soon after taking office last year, President Trump signed an order to expedite the development of critical minerals, a move that has proven popular in Nye County, where Trump received 70% of the vote in 2024. Many of the projects now advancing were already in the works before Trump returned to the White House, but his administration's posture has reinforced local confidence.

Westerlund, who did not hold back in praising the federal direction, added: "Trump is kicking butt. I love the administration, and I think all the things they're doing is what the United States needs."

Not everyone is uncritical of the moment's promises. Jeff Martin, host of the Tonopah Historic Mining Park, a 100-acre museum built on the site of the town's original mines, offered a longer view. "Anytime you have mining, you're always going to have a rollercoaster ride. You have peaks and valleys. Good times, bad times," Martin said. Still, he predicts the good times are on their way back to Tonopah.

Business owner Harry Chahal is already placing his bets. Chahal, who owns the Dream Inn Motel on the main road through town, has been renovating all 39 rooms with fresh paint, new carpet, and updated furniture. He expects workers from the proposed mines will need a place to stay for several weeks at a time.

The boom talk comes with at least one significant caveat. A highly touted solar project outside of town that promised to rival the size of the city of Las Vegas hit a significant snag last fall, according to the Nevada Independent. The setback is a reminder that not every large energy proposal in the region converts from announcement to operation.

Workforce constraints present another obstacle. "It's hard to fast-track when you don't have the people to help the fast-tracking along," said Jowitt, underscoring a challenge that local leaders will need to address if the pace of development is to match the pace of ambition.

Tonopah has ridden the cycle before. A century ago, miners pulled silver and gold from the surrounding mountains before the operations eventually went quiet. The lithium, boron, geothermal, and gold projects now lining up represent a different kind of extraction economy, driven by electric-vehicle supply chains and clean-energy infrastructure rather than the silver rush that first put the town on the map. Whether the current wave crests as high as local optimism suggests will depend on permitting timelines, labor markets, and commodity prices that no town of 2,000 fully controls.