Tesla has employed a recent state law to exempt its Gigafactory in eastern Travis County from the environmental regulations imposed by the city of Austin. The electric vehicle giant has removed a substantial 2,100-acre tract, encompassing its factory, from the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction, as reported by Austin Business Journal. This move was made possible by Senate Bill 2038, a new state law that took effect last September. The legislation grants landowners on the outskirts of major cities the authority to request the removal of their properties from city jurisdiction, enabling them to develop with fewer restrictions. This law, which has drawn opposition from certain municipalities, was passed last year with significant support from developers and the business community. The new law has ignited controversy, with over a dozen municipalities, including Hutto and Lockhart in the Austin area, launching legal challenges. They contend that the law undermines their ability to regulate land that they may eventually annex into their city limits and potentially jeopardizes the health, safety, and environmental well-being of nearby residents. While Austin has not joined the lawsuit, city officials have acknowledged the implications of releasing property from its extraterritorial jurisdiction for current and future residents, according to the report. Tesla’s Gigafactory in Texas spans 2,500 acres along the Colorado River and boasts over 10 million square feet of factory floor. It currently serves as the production hub for Tesla’s popular Model Y and the recently introduced Cybertruck. The company is in the process of expanding the factory and adding new facilities.
Tesla Exempts Gigafactory from Austin Environmental Regulations
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