The company was only able to separate from the city after Senate Bill 2038 was passed last year.
TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas — Tesla’s petition to release approximately 2,100 acres of land from Austin’s extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) has been approved.
But many are concerned that Giga Texas will no longer have to follow Austin’s environmental regulations, which it has followed for the past four years, including standards for water and air quality.
“We’re downwind, under the water, so we’re always worried something will happen up there,” said Richard Franklin, a resident of the neighborhood closest to the Gigafactory.
How can Tesla leave the city?
The Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 2038 last session, which would allow cities to release land outside city limits if they meet certain requirements, one of which is having a petition for secession signed by a majority of the landowners in that area.
But several homeowners KVUE spoke to near the plant said they haven’t heard anything from Tesla and don’t like the idea of the split.
Related: Tesla to cut about 2,700 jobs at Travis County Gigafactory
“I own a house and I live on the street where they’ll be first,” Franklin said. “We’re closest to the Tesla property. The property is right behind us.”
Franklin, who lives in ETJ, where Giga Texas is located, said he prefers city regulation to the unclear regulations of Travis County. Vanessa Fuentes, an Austin City Council member who represents District 2, which borders the Gigafactory, also said it should be up to the city to regulate companies like Tesla.
“As local council members, we know the special needs of our communities,” Fuentes said. “Let’s provide safety and standards to the communities we were elected to represent.”
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Because Tesla is one of the top five water consumers in the Austin area, Fuentes believes the company should be subject to the city’s strict environmental regulations. She believes SB 2038 would strip the city of that authority at the local level.
“If the state legislature passes a bill that makes it easier for companies like Tesla to evade state-specific regulations, there will be consequences,” Fuentes said. “It will impact our communities.”
Fuentes said other cities, including Hutto and Lockhart, have also filed lawsuits against SB 2038.
What’s next?
Fuentes said the city is in discussions with county commissioners about what the county’s regulations specifically are and how Tesla must comply with them.
But until then, many questions remain about what Tesla will be allowed to do.
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