DPA
Deforestation work in Grünheide: Tesla is pushing ahead with building preparations
The US electric car maker Tesla wants his plans for the despite the Corona crisis continue to drive the first factory in Europe. According to the Brandenburg state government, the company made a third application for early measures to prepare for the construction. “Tesla is sticking to both the project and the schedule for the construction of the Grünheide factory,” said Minister of Transport Guido Beermann (CDU) at a conference call by the Brandenburg Parliament’s Transport Committee on Monday.
Federal Minister of Economics Peter Altmaier (CDU) said on Monday at a video conference on the new branch of a federal authority in Weißwasser in Upper Lusatia (Saxony) that his impression was that nothing had changed in Tesla’s determination. He assumed that there would be no significant delays.
Tesla’s plant is expected to produce 500,000 cars a year from 2021
Tesla Show stock market chart plans to manufacture around 500,000 electric cars a year in Grünheide from summer 2021. Because an environmental permit has not yet been completed, the company carries out the preparations on the site in Grünheide (Oder-Spree district) near Berlin at its own risk. Tesla initially applied to clear around 90 hectares of forest ahead of time, then level the ground.
The department head for the environment at the Ministry of the Environment, Axel Steffen, told the committee that the early measures would essentially be flat foundations of certain buildings and the laying of supply lines above the water table. He called the state of the proceedings gratifying. There are currently no major movements on the site, but behind the scenes work continues on the process. There are no signs that final approval will not be available later this year.
370 objections to construction projects
According to the Ministry, more than were against the project 370 objections were received. An appointment to discuss objections was initially canceled due to the Corona crisis. A new date has not yet been set. Environmental department head Steffen said there were plans by the federal government for online consultations to speed up construction processes. However, the country attaches importance to a real discussion date if it is somehow imaginable. “We take every single objection and every single objection very seriously,” said Steffen.
Critics see, among other things, the public supply of drinking water in danger because of the settlement, but also criticize the clearing and handling of animals on the site.
The company now wants to reduce water consumption. This is one of the reasons why Tesla plans to change the application for environmental approval that has already been submitted. Whether this amended application must be interpreted again in public depends on whether the environmental impact has worsened, said Steffen.
la / dpa