Tesla in Grünheide: Go-ahead given, but problems with water supply

The new Tesla Gigafactory in Berlin has recently continued to stand on shaky ground. But now it seems that a solution has finally been reached, as the company announced on Twitter. Meanwhile, however, a court ruling reveals problems with water supply for Tesla Grünheide.

Tesla Grünheide: launch not without problems

“Giga Berlin may open,” twittered Tesla on the morning of March 06 succinctly on the social media platform and immediately attached its career page, as there are apparently still some vacancies to fill.

The state of Brandenburg had recently given the green light to the Tesla Gigafactory in Grünheide near Berlin. But now a court ruling (VG 5 K 469/21) could cause new problems. Apparently, the water supply is affected. Due to a procedural error, the responsible water association Strausberg-Erkner (WSE) may not pump water at the Eggersdorf waterworks, according to a court decision.

Central point is nevertheless the extraction of 3.759 million cubic meters of water per year, which may not be extracted according to association spokeswoman Sandra Ponesky. Ponesky communicated this in an interview with dpa and speaks of a fiasco.

If the water extraction is tolerated on the part of the country, not enough water would be available for the maintenance of the drinking water supply, as well as for Tesla in Grünheide, the spokeswoman continues.

https://twitter.com/Tesla/status/1500386369683832833

What is the court ruling about?

The water supply for the Tesla Gigafactory Grünheide is to be ensured by a supply contract with the Strausberg-Erkner water board. However, in the proceedings, the Administrative Court has now classified the permit for an additional water withdrawal in the Eggersdorf water intake as “unlawful” not “enforceable”.

As a reason, the court cites a procedural error and thus partially upholds the complaint of the environmental associations Grüne Liga and Nabu. The State Office for the Environment (LfU) had not involved the public in the decision on an increase in production volumes from 2.5 million to 3.57 million cubic meters per year, the court states. It is now mandatory that public participation be made up for before the increased production volume is released. However, this could take some time. It is also unclear whether Tesla will appeal the decision.

Just the beginning?

The Environment Ministry welcomes the court’s decision. Judgment and reasoning would now be evaluated and resulting steps would be initiated, as one announced on Saturday. Thorsten Deppner, lawyer of the nature protection alliances, evaluates the judgement as success for the nature protectors.

At the same time it wants to keep also the development in the eye. From the view of the federations there would be further missing examinations. If the court remains only with this procedural error, one must think about the appeal against the decision.

The Strausberg-Erkner water association had previously announced that it would terminate the contract with Tesla if no water permit was granted. “This is not enough for our 170,000 people in the association area and thus, of course, not enough for Tesla. We have to pull the emergency brake for our citizens because the public water supply has priority,” Ponesky told dpa on Saturday.