Tesla has successfully excluded its Gigafactory in eastern Travis County from the environmental regulations of the city of Austin by utilizing a new state law. This law, Senate Bill 2038, allows landowners on the outskirts of major cities to remove their properties from city jurisdiction and develop with fewer restrictions. Tesla’s move has sparked controversy, with over a dozen municipalities challenging the law in court. They argue that it undermines their ability to regulate land they may one day annex and endangers the environment and public health. Tesla’s Gigafactory in Texas spans 2,500 acres and is home to the production of the Model Y and Cybertruck. The company is currently expanding the factory and adding new facilities.