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Dark Water: Tesla's Refinery Sparks Environmental Fears
27 Feb
Summary
- Tesla is discharging wastewater into a local ditch without district notification.
- The discharge flows into Petronila Creek, impacting the sensitive Baffin Bay ecosystem.
- District officials are meeting with Tesla to coordinate next steps and ensure transparency.
In South Texas, officials have raised alarms regarding Tesla's operations, specifically the discharge of treated wastewater from its new lithium refinery. The refinery, which commenced operations in December 2024, produces battery-grade lithium. Tesla possesses a state permit allowing the release of up to 231,000 gallons of treated wastewater daily into an unnamed ditch. However, officials from the local drainage district stated they were never informed about a pipeline installed across their easement.
