Earlier this week, Tesla received permit approval to proceed with its GigaFest grand opening party for its newest Gigafactory in Austin, Texas.
The grand opening event set for April 7 will offer tours of the new 8 million square-foot factory, live music on two stages and capacity for up to 15,000 people to attend.
But the celebration event is facing some local opposition from environmental groups, reports Bloomberg, specifically from the Colorado River Conservancy and Austin-based PODER. Both groups cited issues such as noise, traffic congestions from blocked roads, dust and water pollution as main concerns.
“This grand opening is not a substitute for real community engagement,” said DiFiore. “I urge you to consider rejecting this permit and forcing Tesla to delay their celebration until they start treating the community in Eastern Travis County as more than a workforce for Elon Musk but rather as neighbors and partners.”
It’s unclear if the environmental groups will be able to stop the Giga Texas opening event, as it has been approved to proceed.
On Tuesday, Tesla held its grand opening event in Germany at its new Gigafactory in Berlin-Brandenburg. CEO Elon Musk was in attendance to help deliver the first Model Y vehicles off the factory line. One protester was removed by police for blocking a road at the event, citing the environmental impacts of the new factory.
