Tesla plant takes another hurdle: water association approves development application

Starting next summer, the first Teslas will roll off the assembly line in the then newly built factory in Grünheide near Berlin. But the factory is controversial. Above all, nature conservation makes people mobile, complain that the plant uses too much water. Tesla reacts, as does the responsible water association.

Another course has been set for the controversial construction of the Tesla factory near Berlin. The Strausberg-Erkner water association approved the development application for the plant. The decision was made possible because Tesla reduced the water requirement in the permit application and the authorities approved additional withdrawal quantities, the association said.

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Critics fear, among other things, negative consequences for nature and groundwater from the construction of the Giga-Factory and warned of immense water consumption. In June, the water association did not give a positive forecast for the approval, according to documents available to the German Press Agency. In July, the head of the association warned internally against insufficient drinking water in the event of further expansion. The state government had declared that it considered the problems solvable. Tesla has since reduced its forecast water consumption from 3.3 million to around 1.4 million cubic meters per year.

Public hearing

During the day, critics meet at a public hearing on the State Office for the Environment, which is responsible for the environmental approval. There are 406 formal objections to the factory, which will be discussed at the meeting in Erkner. Tesla then wants to take one of the last hurdles for the final approval.

When the green light for the project will come is open. Tesla is currently building through provisional authorization for individual construction steps. In Grünheide near Berlin, starting next summer, 500,000 electric cars are to be built per year with around 12,000 employees. Tesla boss Elon Musk is also planning to manufacture batteries there.

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