– Tesla’s gigafactory outside Austin, Texas will no longer have to follow local environmental regulations
– This exemption was possible due to a new state law that allows landowners to request removal from jurisdictions
– The exemption will enable Tesla to further develop its land without having to follow the city’s environmental restrictions
Tesla’s massive gigafactory outside Austin, Texas, will no longer have to adhere to local environmental regulations following a recent state law. The 2,500-acre property, which includes the electric vehicle gigafactory, was previously under Austin’s extraterritorial jurisdiction, allowing the city to regulate developments outside its limits. However, Tesla applied for and received an exemption from this jurisdiction in March, enabling the company to develop its land with fewer regulations, impacting water quality and flooding issues in the area.
This exemption was made possible by a new state law that took effect in September, allowing landowners to request to be removed from jurisdictions for development purposes, despite opposition from some cities like Grand Prairie concerned about health and safety implications. Austin’s planning director noted that cities do not have much leeway to deny landowner requests under this law. Tesla’s exemption will now give the company the freedom to develop its land without following the city’s environmental restrictions that could potentially harm locals.
When the Texas gigafactory was being constructed, Elon Musk had promised it would be an “ecological paradise” with public walking trails along the nearby Colorado River. However, Musk’s companies, including Tesla and the Boring Company, have faced issues with environmental regulations in the past. Tesla recently settled a lawsuit for mishandling hazardous waste in California, while the Boring Company has been accused of letting untreated wastewater drain into the Colorado River. Tesla did not provide a comment when asked about the exemption.