After Tesla’s decision in November 2019 to install its Gigafactory in Grünheide, near the future Berlin airport, the ecological cost of the project continues to provoke controversy. The American car manufacturer is once again forced by the German justice system to suspend the construction of its factory following a complaint from environmental groups. “A provisional decision has been taken to suspend the cuts” trees in the area, announced Tuesday, December 8, the administrative court of Frankfurt-on-Oder.
Two associations had filed a complaint on Monday against the planned felling of 82.8 hectares of forest by Tesla to expand the site of its electric car factory, which is scheduled to open next year. They believe that this operation violates German environmental legislation by destroying the habitat of protected species of lizards and snakes. “A decision on the merits of the case has not yet been taken”, however, the court said.
The large American group had already been forced in February to suspend its work of clearing 90 hectares of trees for several days, following a complaint from the same collective of environmentalists. Tesla is subject to many obligations there with regard to the protection of wildlife, in particular ants and birds.
No definitive building permit
Tesla is targeting annual production of 500,000 electric vehicles in this « gigafactory », the first in Europe from Elon Musk’s company. But the impact of this immense complex on the ecological balance and the water resources of this very forested area worries environmental organizations.
Another complaint from the associations: the American builder still does not have a final building permit, which is subject to several procedures assessing in particular the environmental impact of the project. The builder was nevertheless authorized by the local authorities to start the work. “At his own risk”, pending final authorization. “Tesla cannot and must not stand above the law”, says Heinz Herwig Mascher, representative of the Grüne Liga association in Brandenburg.
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