Brandenburg Environmental Agency gives preliminary green light for Tesla expansion
The automaker Tesla is allowed to begin construction on the planned expansion of its factory in Brandenburg, Germany, in Grünheide. The Brandenburg Environmental Office in Potsdam gave the green light for an early construction start, granting a "positive permit forecast." The factory's production capacity is expected to increase from approximately 500,000 vehicles per year to around one million.
According to the Environmental Office, plans include building a large new production hall and making changes to existing facilities. The official permit for this has not been issued yet, but Tesla can begin "at its own risk" with the construction work due to the positive permit forecast, as the Potsdam authority explained. First, an "asphalted logistics area for new cars" is planned to be built.
Tesla's expansion plans are controversial among neighbors and environmentalists, primarily because forest clearing is required. Following intense protests, the company submitted a new development plan, reducing the area to be cleared from 100 to nearly 50 hectares.
The Environmental Agency has taken note of Tesla's planned addition of a large new production hall and modifications to existing facilities in their expansion, which is expected to significantly enhance the factory's production capacity from 500,000 to 1 million vehicles annually. The Light emitted from the factory during operation might become a concern for environmental assessments as part of the Tesla extension in Brandenburg.
