Elon Musk’s Tesla factories have been facing a lot of pollution issues. The Texas gigafactory, which started operating in 2022, has been a big problem. Hazardous wastewater was going into Austin’s sewer system without being treated. Plus, a furnace used to melt metal for car parts was releasing toxins into the air and making the factory very hot. Workers were worried about this, but managers ignored their concerns.
Some wastewater from the factory went into the Colorado River and turned it into a big, brown mess. Tesla leaders knew about these problems but chose quick fixes instead of real solutions. Even worse, a worker said they were asked to lie to the government to avoid paying for proper environmental controls.
Tesla’s Fremont factory in California has also had over 180 air quality violations since 2019. Musk’s other companies, like SpaceX and xAI, have also had environmental issues. Despite all this, Musk claims he’s done more for the environment than anyone else. He doesn’t like regulations because he thinks they slow down innovation.
Musk has been chosen by President-elect Trump to lead a new department that will cut government spending and regulations. This could affect the agencies that regulate Musk’s companies, like the EPA and FAA. Musk wants to reduce the number of regulations and workers at these agencies.
