Tesla is making headlines again, but this time, it’s because of a lawsuit about emissions at its Fremont facility in California. This is where they make vehicles like the Model S and Cybertruck. The lawsuit was brought by the Environmental Democracy Project, a group from East Oakland that works on environmental issues.
They say Tesla has been breaking the federal Clean Air Act since January 2021 by releasing harmful chemicals like nitrogen oxides, arsenic, and cadmium. It’s not easy for companies to deal with emissions from factories. Tesla even needed a special permit to operate its factory in Nevada while staying within the law.
The Environmental Democracy Project wants to stop Tesla from emitting more chemicals. They also want Tesla to pay fines of $121,275 for every day they keep breaking the Clean Air Act.
This isn’t the first time Tesla has been sued over environmental issues in California. In 2021, they settled a case with the Bay Area Quality Management District and had to pay $1 million in penalties. Then in 2022, the Environmental Protection Agency found Tesla guilty of breaking the Clean Air Act and fined them $275,000.
Just in February, Tesla had to pay $1.5 million to settle with 25 California counties for not labeling hazardous waste properly, like diesel fuel and batteries. The new lawsuit was filed recently, so Tesla hasn’t been found guilty yet or faced any penalties.
