The Republican governor is the sole arbiter of which bills get his signature and what he vetoes, and he exercised that rejection power a record-breaking 75 times two years ago. But he’s often influenced by the advice and insights of his seven-member policy team.

While coming large-scale lithium mines and their future employees will bring revenue and jobs to rural Nevada communities hungry for an economic jolt, they’ll also bring growing pains. Rural counties will be on the hook to come up with the money to fund critical infrastructure and other expenses — but, with proceeds from the mines not reaching the counties until production is underway, those same counties have limited ways to prepare or pay for expenses in advance.

“Hopefully this will be the model moving forward for the continued diversification of the state's economy,” Lombardo said during the meeting, adding later in comments to reporters that “this is very beneficial across the board, both in economic development and to build out the quality of life for every Nevadan.”