In Nevada, Technology Firm Seeks Government Power

In the U.S. state of Nevada, a cryptocurrency businessman hopes to turn dreams of a futuristic "smart city" into reality.

To do that, he is asking the state to let companies like his form local governments on land that they own. This would give them power over everything from schools to law enforcement.

Jeffrey Berns is head of Nevada-based Blockchains LLC. His "smart city" would permit people to buy goods and services with digital money. But it would also record all of a person's blockchain activities, including financial statements, medical history and other private information.

Blockchain is a digital record-keeper known mostly for recording¹ cryptocurrency usage. But it has also been used by some local governments for everything from recording marriage documents to aiding elections.

Blockchains LLC wants to begin its process by 2022 in rural Storey County. It is proposing to build 15,000 homes and 3 million square meters of business and industrial space within 75 years.

Berns' idea is the basis for a bill that will be considered by state lawmakers. He said traditional government does not offer enough ways for community members to invent new uses for blockchain technology.

"There's got to be a place somewhere on this planet where people are willing to just start [over] and say, ‘We're not going to do things this way just because it's the way we've done it,'" Berns told The Associated Press.

He wants Nevada to change its laws to permit "innovation zones" – areas where companies would have powers like those of a local government. That includes the creation of court systems, along with enforcing taxes and building infrastructure². It also means companies would make decisions about land and water usage.

The proposal has been met with interest but skepticism from Nevada lawmakers. However, the bill has yet to be officially presented and discussed in public hearings. Most lawmakers in the Democratic-controlled Legislature want to expand Nevada's economy, which depends mainly on vacationers. But many fear strong public opposition³ to business incentives⁵ as they struggle to pay for healthcare and education.

The bill differs from the incentives the state has been careful about approving, such as the $1.3 billion tax break given to electric carmaker Tesla. The company built a battery factory in Nevada.

But the proposal raises deeper issues about the increasing influence technology companies have on the everyday lives of citizens. Government regulators and members of Congress have accused major technology companies like Google and Facebook of unfairly controlling markets and endangering people's privacy.

Blockchains LLC and "innovation zones" were a central part of Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak's January State of the State speech. In it, he talked about plans to rebuild a more wide-ranging economy after the coronavirus pandemic.

Sisolak's campaign and related political action committee received a total of $60,000 from Blockchains LLC. Sisolak said the proposal would make Nevada the center of this new industry and "create the high-paying jobs" and income to go with it.

State Senator Ben Kieckhefer is a Republican who supported blockchain-related legislation in 2017 and 2019. But he has a somewhat different take on the issue than Sisolak.

He told The Associated Press, "I don't know enough yet to say whether I'm comfortable with this as the next step or not. But, look, it's a big idea and Nevada has been built on big ideas, so let's hear it out."

If lawmakers support the bill, tech companies with 200 square kilometers that promise a $1 billion investment could make areas governed by three people. The current bill states that two of those people would, at first, be from the company itself.

In Storey County, which is home to Tesla's factory, officials are waiting for more information before giving their opinions. But they say there are questions that still need to be answered.

Lance Gilman is a Storey County official. He bought most of the county's land to turn it into an industrial park several years ago. He has supported bringing technology companies to the area and growing its population. Gilman, who did marketing⁶ for Blockchains LLC from 2018 to 2019, said there are many unknowns about giving control to a new town within a county.

Gilman told The Associated Press that if the proposed "smart city" does not do well, it is not clear who would be responsible for all the building that took place.

Berns said he understands that elected leaders in Storey County may not want an experimental city in their area. But he thinks the decision should be made by the state – not the county.

Words in This Story

cryptocurrency – n. a digital currency that is designed to work as a medium of exchange

infrastructure – n. the basic equipment and structures (such as roads and bridges) that are needed for a country or region

skepticism – n. an attitude of doubting the truth of something (such as a claim or statement)

incentive⁴ – n. something that encourages a person to do something or to work harder

battery – n. a device that is placed inside a machine (such as a clock, toy or car) to supply it with electricity

comfortable – adj. causing no worries, difficulty, or uncertainty

1 recording   

n.录音，记录

参考例句：

• How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。

2 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

3 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

4 incentive   

n.刺激；动力；鼓励；诱因；动机

参考例句：

• Money is still a major incentive in most occupations.在许多职业中，钱仍是主要的鼓励因素。
• He hasn't much incentive to work hard.他没有努力工作的动机。

5 incentives   

激励某人做某事的事物( incentive的名词复数 )； 刺激； 诱因； 动机

参考例句：

• tax incentives to encourage savings 鼓励储蓄的税收措施
• Furthermore, subsidies provide incentives only for investments in equipment. 更有甚者，提供津贴仅是为鼓励增添设备的投资。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

6 marketing   

n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西

参考例句：

• They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
• He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。