German Tesla factory opening may be in danger again

The environmental organizations are not suing Tesla, but the local authorities in the Brandenburg region. That reports Bloomberg† According to the activists, the effect of the groundwater use of the Tesla factory on climate change is not included in the granting of the environmental permit to Tesla, which allows the car manufacturer to pump groundwater for the factory for 30 years. In total this concerns 1.4 million cubic meters per year, enough to supply a city of 40,000 people.

According to the authorities, the problem is manageable and it will only become difficult if Tesla continues to expand the factory. Experts contradict this and partly agree with the environmental organizations. After all, the groundwater level in Brandenburg has been declining for 30 years, with the droughts of recent years leading to crop failures and forest fires. According to Axel Bronstert, a professor of water management at the University of Potsdam, it is “naive” to think that the current reserves are sufficient for both the factory and the inhabitants. He calls the situation “serious.” In addition, the local water board has not yet taken the necessary measures to maintain the water level. That could take years. Tesla does indicate that it is trying to reduce the amount of water required per car.

For Tesla, the German factory is now becoming a nice headache file. In 2019, the American car manufacturer already started construction of the factory on the basis of a preliminary approval. Production should actually have started last year, but the current lawsuit may again put a brake on the opening of the factory if the judge rules in favor of the environmental groups.