It is Grünheide, where the company’s first European factory opened in 2022: it now wants to expand, but most of the inhabitants are against it due to environmental problems
This week in Grünheide, a German town of around 9 thousand inhabitants in the federal state of Brandenburg, a local referendum took place on the possibility of expanding the large Tesla factory which has been active in the surrounding area since 2020. 76 percent of those entitled to participate took part: about 5,400 people, 3,499 voted against the expansion (65 percent) and 1,882 in favor (35 percent).
The results of the referendum confirmed the opposition of the majority of the local population to the factory, which over the years has been at the center of many debates and discussions especially due to the environmental impact on an area known for its large green spaces and surrounded by lakes and forests.
Grünheide was the first European production plant of Tesla, the large American electric car company founded by entrepreneur Elon Musk. The project was announced in 2019 and was initially welcomed by Brandenburg and federal politicians, as the plant would create thousands of jobs and support the transition to electric vehicles in Germany.
At the beginning of 2020, Tesla began work to deforest the area where the factory was supposed to be built, despite the firm opposition of many environmental groups, who for years tried to stop or at least slow down the work also through numerous lawsuits. The establishment was finally inaugurated in March 2022, in the presence of Musk and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
– Read also: The thousand troubles of the new Tesla factory in Germany
Today the factory covers an area of 3 square kilometres: Tesla, however, would like to expand it by another 1.7 square kilometres, of which approximately one kilometer is currently occupied by a pine forest, which should be deforested. The company would like to expand the warehouse, build a kindergarten for employees’ children and new infrastructure to make it easier to transport goods to and from the factory.
One of the points most contested by activists is the large quantity of water that the factory would need to operate, equal to approximately 1.8 million cubic meters per year. Other concerns include increased levels of air, noise and light pollution and the overall deterioration in the quality of life that such a large industrial facility would bring to a small, quiet community.
However, not everyone is against it: before the referendum, for example, a group of teenagers he campaigned in favor of the expansion, arguing that the factory offers an important job opportunity for area residents. Many local politicians are also in favor, especially due to the economic benefits of the plant. The plant has around 12 thousand employees and has contributed to improving the economy of the state of Brandenburg, where in the first half of 2023 has been registered a growth of 6 percent.
The results of the referendum are not binding. Mayor Arne Christiani, in favor of the expansion, said however that they will be taken into consideration and that the local administration will try to find a compromise with the inhabitants. In a statement, Tesla announced that he will try to speak with residents to “decide the next steps”.
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2024-02-21 22:36:18
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