To review this article, select My Profile and then View Saved Stories.
Morgan Meaker
The controversial expansion of Tesla’s only European gigafactory was approved on Thursday, when the city council of the German municipality of Grünheide voted in favor of the automaker’s plan to expand its facilities near Berlin.
A majority of the board’s 19 representatives supported Tesla’s plans to expand the factory. Eleven councillors voted in favour of the extension, six voted against and two abstained. The vote improves Tesla’s chances of building more logistics space by adding an exercise station. However, the company still wants to get approval from local environmental authorities. In July, Tesla announced plans to build 1 million electric cars a year at the site.
By Morgan Meaker
About 50 protesters gathered in front of the local government building when the effects were announced, according to local reports. “It’s pretty disappointing,” said Esther Kamm, spokeswoman for the anti-Tesla protest organization Turn Off the Tap on Tesla (TDHA). ), who attended the vote. He said the organization would still try to prevent the expansion by continuing its protests while exploring its legal options.
“It’s a bad resolution today and it makes it harder, but it’s actually not the end of the story. “
TDHA is just one of many environmental teams opposing the expansion, saying the plant’s presence threatens to pollute local water materials and calling the automaker’s reputation as a deceptive environmentally friendly company.
“I’m angry,” Manu Hoyer, spokesman for the Grünheide Citizens’ Initiative (Bürgerinitiative Grünheide), which represents local citizens who oppose the plant, said in a statement. “Today the city council ignored my vote and that of my fellow citizens. In February, 65 citizens voted against the enlargement plan in a non-binding poll.
Last week, during a protest against the expansion, many demonstrators tried to attack the plant, amid clashes with police. As part of a five-day protest, police said 23 protesters were arrested and 27 police officers injured.
Anti-Tesla protesters say they draw attention to the mining needed to build electric car batteries and the disruption it can pose to local communities. Compared to traditional cars, electric car batteries require 170 kilograms more of minerals such as lithium, nickel, and cobalt, according to 2021 figures released through the International Energy Agency.
Since February, a handful of protesters have been living in cabins in the woods, just steps from the Tesla factory, in a new attempt to prevent the expansion of the site. Lately they are allowed to stay there until May 20. force the camp to leave the camp before that date, rejected today by a German court.
Brian Barrett
Brendan I. Koerner
Steven Levy
Scott Gilbertson
In Your Inbox: Will Knight’s Fast Forward Explores AI Advancements
He left a cryptocurrency on a USB drive and then disappeared
Real-Time Deepfake Romance Scams Are Coming
Boomergasms are on the rise
Are you going outside? Here are the best sleeping bags for every adventure.
Morgan Meaker
Morgan Meaker
Carlton Reid
Aarian Marshall
Aarian Marshall
Morgan Meaker
Ben Olivier
Matt Reynolds
More from WIRING
Reviews & Guides
© 2024 Condé Nast. All rights reserved. WIRED would possibly obtain a portion of the sales of products purchased through our site through our partner partnerships with retailers. Fabrics on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached, or otherwise used without the prior written permission of Condé Nast Ad Options.