Community representatives in Grünheide ignored the citizens’ vote and agreed with the Tesla development plan, junge Welt reported.
The “Turn off Tesla tap” alliance describes the Grünheide municipal council vote as a “bitter blow for water protection and democracy.”
Eleven of the 19 Grünheide representatives voted on Thursday evening for a development plan that gives the US car manufacturer Tesla the green light to expand the factory.
Local authorities approved the decision despite more than 60 per cent of Grünheide residents opposing it in a citizens’ poll in February. Around 100 Tesla opponents protested in front of the polling place on Thursday afternoon, and the local council meeting took place in a tense climate.
After the results of the vote became known, opponents announced further resistance. Manu Hoyer of the Grünheide civic initiative stated on Friday:
There were serious procedural errors. We will take legal action against the development plan and file a lawsuit.
Changes in the development plan were not noted and the plan was interpreted too briefly. It is reported that the citizens’ initiative will consult with other alliances about upcoming protests. The “Turn off Tesla tap” alliance was also disappointed as politicians put “Tesla’s profits ahead of drinking water protection.”
Following a citizen survey, the development plan underwent a revision. Instead of the original 100 hectares to be allocated to the electric car manufacturer, it has now become almost 50. At the local council meeting, a Tesla representative argued that it was about climate protection.
Among other things, the company wanted to build a freight station on the site. Although one million vehicles per year can be transported by road. We want to do it by rail.
Increased capacity amid job cuts
Overall, Tesla and state politicians remained satisfied with the results of the vote. Brandenburg’s Economy Minister Jörg Steinbach reported a “strong signal” for the future development of Grünheide and Tesla.
Tesla, according to Steinbach, plans to double its capacity at the plant. However, things are currently going badly. Just three weeks ago, company CEO Elon Musk cut thousands of jobs worldwide. This also affected 400 employees in Grünheide.
Activists have been protesting for months against the expansion of the plant, the working conditions at the plant, and the environmental impact. At the end of February, they occupied the relevant forest next to the factory site. Around 2,000 people took part in several demonstrations. The most recent one took place last week.
