Ecology and economy do not have to be opposites - according to Minister of Economics Altmaier, the construction of the new Tesla plant in Brandenburg could prove this.
Berlin (dpa) - Federal Minister of Economics Peter Altmaier (CDU) has spoken out for a speedy construction of the Tesla factory in Grünheide near Berlin.
"The construction of the Tesla automobile plant in Brandenburg has been of great importance for more climate protection and one of the most important industrial settlements in the new federal states for a long time," Altmaier told the newspapers of the Funke media group. Germany could show with the project of the US electric car manufacturer that ecology and economy are not opposites and that it is possible to plan and build important projects just as quickly as in other countries.
The Higher Administrative Court (OVG) Berlin-Brandenburg had initially stopped clearing around 90 hectares of the site after a complaint from environmentalists. The State Environment Agency had approved the early start to clearing the forest last week. The final approval is still pending. From summer 2021 Tesla plans to produce electric vehicles in Grünheide.
The president of the Federation of German Industries, Dieter Kempf, called in the "Tagesspiegel" for "faster approval practice in Germany". Brandenburg's Minister of Economic Affairs Jörg Steinbach (SPD) pointed out that Tesla had received approval for early clearing less than two months after submitting the documents.
The Institute of German Business (IW) warned of dangers for Germany as a business location and demanded bonuses for quick work. IW director Michael Hüther told the "Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung" (Tuesday) that it was generally a problem if investments threatened to fail due to long planning processes, objections and protests. FDP chief Christian Lindner warned in the newspapers of the Funke media group, "Regardless of the specific jurisprudence, I see with concern that we too often put the brakes on major projects in Germany".
Information on the project on the Grünheide side
Green league on the subject
Notice OVG Berlin-Brandenburg
Tweet Svenja Schulze
