Tesla Skirts Austin’s Environmental Rules at Texas Gigafactory
Tesla used a new Texas law to exempt itself from environmental regulations, an odd move for a company making many ecological claims.
Electrek 4:52 pm on April 23, 2024
Tesla has exempted its Austin gigafactory from Austin's environmental regulations by removing itself from the city's extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) under a new Texas state law, SB 203. The law allows developments to opt out of ETJs more easily, which will allow Tesla less oversight over water usage and discharge at the site. This may raise environmental concerns since the gigafactory is located along the Colorado River.
- Tesla removes itself from Austin's ETJ to avoid environmental regulations
- New Texas state law SB 203 allows developments to easily opt out of ETJs
- Gigafactory located along the Colorado River raises water usage concerns
- Austin previously extended utility connections to the site without annexing it
- Tesla gets to keep utility benefits but avoids environmental oversight
https://electrek.co/2024/04/22/tesla-skirts-austins-environmental-rules-at-texas-gigafactory/