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Nevada’s subsidies for Tesla factory don’t only hurt taxpayers

By Timothy P. Carney
Published September 19, 2014 9:00am ET
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Nevada’s subsidies for Tesla factory don’t only hurt taxpayers
Elon Musk, co-founder and chief executive officer of Tesla Motors Inc., at a news conference at the Nevada State Capitol building in Carson City, Nevada, U.S., on Sept. 4. Tesla will build the world's largest lithium-ion battery plant in Nevada, bringing a $100 billion boost to the state's economy over two decades, Governor Brian Sandoval said. (David Calvert/Bloomberg) | David Calvert

Outside of Reno, a fleet of 50 earthmovers was spotted in July, flattening desert hills and clearing out brush. It was an early hint that Tesla would build its $5 billion battery factory in Nevada, as opposed to the other Southwest states courting the electric car maker.

About $1.25 billion in subsidies from the state government convinced Tesla’s owner Elon Musk to settle in the Silver State.

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