When building its new plant in Grünheide near Berlin, the US car manufacturer Tesla obviously underestimated the German bureaucracy.
Now comes the return coach - and it fails violently.
Berlin - The electric car pioneer Tesla has heavily criticized the slow approval process for its German electric car plant in Grünheide near Berlin.
“The German approval framework for industrial and infrastructure projects as well as for spatial planning is in direct contrast to the urgency of planning and implementing such projects, which is necessary to combat climate change,” wrote the US company in a statement published on Thursday on its new plant in Brandenburg .
As "particularly irritating", Tesla criticized the fact that 16 months after the application there was still no schedule for granting a final approval.
The “most glaring problem” is that in current procedures and laws, projects that fight climate change and those that accelerate it are treated equally.
Tesla: Want to share our experience
Tesla expressed itself in a proceeding between the German Environmental Aid (DUH) and the Federal Republic before the Higher Administrative Court Berlin-Brandenburg.
The DUH demands that the federal government be condemned to set up a program to achieve the national climate protection target of 2030.
Tesla submitted the statement as a "friend of the court" because it was in the interest of the proceedings to share the experience.
Environmental aid boss Jürgen Resch said he was surprised by Tesla's advance, but welcomed him.
The letter was "beneficial": "The essential thing is that the discussion is now back on track as to how we can reduce this over-bureaucratization in Germany without the opportunities for civil society and environmental associations to participate."
A faster approval process is needed in Germany in order to meet climate protection requirements.
Approval procedures took too long and are becoming increasingly difficult for wind turbines, for example.
One problem is that the submission of documents by e-mail is often rejected by the authorities.
Tesla: So far, Grünheide has only given revocable permits
Tesla wants to start production in its first European plant in Grünheide in Brandenburg in the summer and over time will manufacture 500,000 cars per year.
The group wants to give up the plant in the Netherlands.
In Germany, the US group has so far been building with provisional approvals.
Work on the new Gigafactory was repeatedly interrupted after appeals.
Among other things, it was about the resettlement of animals.
Critics also warn of risks to the region's drinking water supply.
Tesla: Specific proposals to speed up the approval process
In the statement, Tesla proposed ten measures to improve the approval processes.
This includes accelerated procedures for sustainable projects as well as consideration of indirect effects on the environment.
At present, indications of relatively minor local consequences could prevent positive projects on a larger scale, argued the US company.
Tesla also criticized the fact that public participation "encourages abuse" by some of the current regulations.
Large hearings rewarded “volume instead of substance”.
Tesla: German environmental aid is distancing itself from e-car manufacturers
On this point, DUH boss Resch distanced himself from Tesla's letter: “We would not have written that.” All arguments from environmental and citizen associations must be weighed, “and in the end the courts will decide”.
Resch also expressed doubts that one could separate climate-friendly and climate-damaging projects from the outset.
After all, every company will speak of positive effects.
Brandenburg's state government was also skeptical of this proposal.
It is true that accelerating the procedure “at a suitable point” is sensible.
"Legally, however, there can be no differentiation between apparently climate-friendly and climate-damaging investments, because the law is not divisible." The US company traditionally does not shy away from disputes.
Just a few days ago, Group boss Elon Musk had heavily criticized ZDF for a contribution by Frontal 21.
(dpa / utz)
