The electric car manufacturer Tesla On Sunday, he once again promoted his planned expansion of the site to residents at an event at his Gigafactory. Information stands were set up in the lobby of the plant, and numerous interlocutors, including representatives from Tesla, Deutsche Bahn, the municipality of Grünheide and the Oder-Spree district, provided information about the development plans and infrastructure projects in connection with the project. The community representatives’ decision on the development plan is still pending. A resident survey starts this Monday. There are protests against the plans. Environmental groups and citizens’ initiatives believe the expansion is not necessary and have called for people to vote against it.
A decision on the development plan is still pending
The B plan for the expansion of the site has not yet been decided. About a year ago, the Grünheide municipal council voted with a majority in favor of drawing up a new development plan. A decision by community representatives is planned for the second quarter. After that, the finance committee of the state parliament, among other things, must approve a sale by the state forestry, and public participation is still pending.
Tesla wants to build a freight station, warehouses and a daycare center on an area next to the factory premises. Over 100 hectares of forest will be cleared for the expansion. The company sees a significant benefit for the region if the development plan for the expansion were approved. For example, freight traffic would be relieved if a works station were built. Public infrastructure would also be able to be implemented more quickly.
Citizens’ alliance believes expansion is not necessary
The Grünheide citizens’ initiative, among others, criticized the company for not making nearly full use of its current production capacities. In addition, the expansion of the site is not necessary to shift traffic; the freight station was already approved in the last development plan. The “Turn off the tap from Tesla” alliance wants to use information materials, posters and “doorstep discussions” to promote a no to expansion in the coming weeks.
“For the first time, we residents have the opportunity to give our opinion on Tesla’s plans. We call on all residents of our community to vote for a livable Grünheide and against the development plan,” said Manu Hoyer from the Grünheide citizens’ initiative on Sunday, according to the announcement.
So far over 60 objections to the development plan
According to Grünheide’s mayor Arne Christiani (independent), the municipality has received over 60 objections so far. Objectors had until December 21, 2023 to submit their comments. The “Märkische Oderzeitung” first reported on this. Christiani took part in the information event at the Tesla factory on Sunday, which marks the end of a series of five information events in towns near the Gigafactory near Berlin. “There is a lot of interest from citizens and mostly positive feedback,” he reported to the dpa. At times there was a queue of people wanting to go to the event in front of the factory.
In addition to the planned expansion of the site, Tesla is aiming to expand the factory on the existing site. The company has already acquired 300 hectares for this purpose. The car manufacturer wants to double production from the planned 500,000 cars per year to one million per year. According to its own information, the company currently produces more than 250,000 vehicles annually. Tesla hopes that the State Environment Agency will approve the first partial application for the expansion by the end of March – this includes a consideration of the environmental impacts of further expansion.