For Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke (60, SPD) it was “a great day”. But it ended very small: Just hours after the Tesla car factory in Grünheide was approved, a court declared the increased water pumping for the factory illegal. Is the start of production now bursting?
On Friday, Brandenburg’s environmental agency handed over the final approval for the gigafactory on the eastern Berlin Ring. Tesla is still not allowed to get started. The office laid down 400 (!) conditions for the start of series production of electric cars. A consequence of the 813 objections from residents and environmentalists.
“Tesla says they can do it all in two weeks,” said Environment Minister Axel Vogel (65, Greens). On March 23, the government wants to celebrate the opening with Boss Elon Musk (50). But now it is endangered.
In the evening, the Frankfurt (Oder) Administrative Court ruled: The approval of a higher water supply for Tesla was illegal and is not enforceable! Because there was no public participation. She has to be caught up.
also read
► Elon Musk’s Brandenburg Tesla plant is allowed to start!
► Environmental lawsuit – Tesla’s water supply in danger!
By then, the water association WSE would be missing 4 million cubic meters. It might have to ration the water for 180,000 customers. “Then we will terminate the supply contract with Tesla,” announced WSE boss André Bähler.
However, the office can still appeal against the verdict. The court also stated: “The existing groundwater is sufficient in the long term to supply the population and industrial settlements.”