Tesla has taken advantage of a new law passed in Texas in September. This law allows them to exempt their large production facility located east of Austin from city environmental regulations.
As of September 1, 2023, Senate Bill 2038 has been approved. This bill now allows landowners who live on the outskirts of major Texas cities to request to be excluded from Austin’s extraterritorial jurisdiction. It will assist them in developing their land with less limitations.
The bill states that if the majority of landowners in an area outside a municipality want to be excluded from the municipality’s control, they can submit a request to the municipality.
In order for an area to be considered for potential release, it must have a population of less than 200 people.
The use of the law by Tesla was first reported by the Austin Business Journal. The company submitted a request on February 8th and received notification on March 8th that the Giga Texas property met the requirements for the law to be applied.
Also Read: Sheriff Says Gang Member Caught in ‘ambush’ Shooting of L.a. County Deputy
Tesla’s first application and request describe a plot of land spanning 2,100 acres along SH-130 and the Colorado River. This area includes the entire Giga Texas building.
The law is controversial and many municipalities have challenged it. They argue that their power to regulate land in the area has been taken away. Furthermore, they argue that the well-being and safety of people living nearby and the environment could be in danger because many of the projects that will be advantageous are in large industries.
These local governments have already taken legal action to challenge the law. Austin has not taken action, but the report states that city officials are aware of the risks for both current and future residents of Austin.
According to city spokesperson Shelley Parks, if an area is no longer under the jurisdiction, it could affect the quality of water and potentially lead to flooding problems in the future.
Tesla’s Giga Texas is one of the biggest employers in the state. By the end of 2022, a report on the economic impact revealed that 15,000 individuals were employed at the plant. This information was shared in late 2023. The number may have gone down because some people lost their jobs in recent layoffs.
Leave a Reply