Tesla wants to clear 70 hectares of forest for Gigafactory in Grünheide
According to reports, Tesla is planning to expand the production area of its Gigafactory in Grünheide. The electric car manufacturer wants to clear around 70 hectares of pine forest for this. But while politicians welcome the plans, environmentalists are clearly opposed to them.
In March 2022, Tesla opened its Gigafactory in Grünheide. However, the electric car manufacturer’s new plant has repeatedly been overshadowed by negative reports. For example, the water supply to the production site was considered unresolved for a long time.
Recently, the company also had problems finding enough employees – also due to low wages. However, Tesla is apparently planning to expand its production capacities. This is a renewed concern for environmentalists.
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Gigafactroy Grünheide: Tesla wants to clear 70 hectares of pine forest
As the Märkische Oderzeitung (MOZ) reports that the electric car manufacturer now wants to clear some 70 hectares of pine forest in order to expand its gigafactory in Grünheide. Appropriate approval is already available, so the company has started felling the trees.
However, further approval is required for the expansion of the plant. Tesla is reportedly preparing an application for the required environmental law process. Again daily mirror reported, however, public participation is again necessary for this.
Tesla plans to employ 12,000 people
The company’s personnel concerns seem to be slowly easing. According to the report, around 7,000 employees are now working in the Gigafactory in Grünheide. That is more than twice as many as at the opening. However, that’s still a long way from the targeted 12,000 employees. Tesla said to the Tagesspiegel:
The clearing takes place because the space is needed for centralizing the construction site infrastructure and for clearing the construction site for the planned expansion stage.
Citizens’ initiative sees dangers for people and the environment
The Brandenburg Economics Minister Jörg Steinbach (SPD) is pleased that the electric car manufacturer is now moving on: “This is a good sign: Tesla is relying on Brandenburg. Brandenburg is developing more and more into an important location for the modern automotive industry in Germany,” says Steinbach.
The Grünheide citizens’ initiative and the association for nature and landscape in Brandenburg spoke out against further forest clearing and thus also against the expansion. On the site the initiative says:
Tesla does not control current production. Disturbances in the operational process occur again and again, which pose a danger to people and the environment.
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