Tesla is expanding its presence in Texas with a new Megapack battery storage manufacturing facility in Brookshire, bringing approximately 1,500 jobs to the area.
On March 5, the Waller County Commissioners Court approved a tax abatement agreement to support the project. The Brookshire City Council will review a similar agreement at their next meeting on Thursday at 7 p.m., according to Covering Katy.
The Empire West industrial park, located on Woods Road between Highway 90 and Interstate 10, will house Tesla’s new operations. The company will take over a 1 million-square-foot facility built by Stream Realty, which originally had no tenant but was designed to attract economic development. Tesla will also occupy a new 600,000-square-foot distribution facility that will include some manufacturing capabilities.
Tesla’s Megapacks store electricity for renewable energy projects, helping to stabilize the grid when solar and wind power aren’t generating. Vince Yokom, executive director of the Waller County Economic Development Partnership, called the facility “state-of-the-art” and highlighted its role in grid stability and preventing outages.
Tesla has leased the site since 2021, with third-party logistics firm DB Schenker managing Tesla parts. With Schenker set to move out, Tesla will take over the space to begin Megapack production.
The tax abatement deal includes $44 million in facility improvements and $150 million in Tesla manufacturing equipment. A second phase will add a $31 million distribution facility and $2 million in equipment upgrades. Brookshire’s economic development director, Joe Esch, played a key role in securing the agreement, which leaders say will boost local investment and job growth.
