Join each day information updates from CleanTechnica on e mail. Or observe us on Google Information!
It appears that evidently the Bay Space Air High quality Administration District is getting a bit fed up with Tesla. Or, at the very least, it’s getting fed up with one particular downside on the Tesla Fremont manufacturing facility and Tesla’s unwillingness to right it. The district printed a information launch this week requiring that Tesla lastly tackle this appropriately. Additionally, within the letter, a bit extra was defined about it that certain does make it appear to be an odd violation.
To begin with, right here was the title of the district’s information launch: “Air District Hearing Board orders Tesla to correct ongoing air quality violations.” And right here’s the subheading: “Tesla must correct frequent, recurring emissions at their Fremont facility.”
What is going to occur if Tesla doesn’t right these issues? Nicely, that’s not clear, as nothing was talked about on that matter.
Let’s simply share the entire information launch earlier than occurring:
SAN FRANCISCO — The Bay Space Air High quality Administration District introduced immediately that the company’s impartial Listening to Board has ordered Tesla to right air high quality violations at its electrical car manufacturing facility in Fremont. A written order is anticipated to be issued this week.
The Air District sought the abatement order to cease frequent and ongoing violations from the paint store operations on the facility. Tesla has emitted dangerous precursor natural compounds and poisonous air contaminants immediately into the environment with out correct abatement, leading to over 112 Notices of Violation since 2019. Every of those violations can emit a whole lot of kilos of unlawful air air pollution, based on some estimates. The violations are frequent, recurring and may negatively have an effect on public well being and the surroundings.
“Tesla’s ongoing violations at their Fremont facility pose a risk to public health and air quality in the surrounding community,” mentioned Dr. Philip Fantastic, government officer of the Air District. “This order is crucial to ensure that Tesla takes prompt and effective action to stop harmful emissions and comply with all air quality regulations to protect the health of those living near the facility.”
The order requires Tesla to implement a plan to handle these recurring violations by a two-step course of:
- First, rent a third-party advisor to do an analysis and make suggestions. Tesla should then develop a proposed implementation plan to implement the suggestions, which it would file with the Listening to Board for approval.
- Second, execute the implementation plan as permitted by the Listening to Board to cease the avoidable launch of uncontrolled emissions, besides the place it could be completely needed for security causes.
Tesla’s recurring violations outcome from quite a lot of causes. In some instances, Tesla’s thermal oxidizer or associated elements of the abatement system break down repeatedly and Tesla’s system design causes emissions to mechanically be vented immediately into the environment with out correct abatement because of this, even when abatement can nonetheless be accomplished. In different instances, the abatement tools is functioning correctly, however Tesla shuts the abatement system down when there are issues with Web page 2 of two 2024-027 different tools within the paint retailers. This has occurred even when these issues are brought on by Tesla employees or its contractors, and unabated emissions are despatched into the environment.
Tesla’s recurring violations outcome from quite a lot of causes. In some instances, Tesla’s thermal oxidizer or associated elements of the abatement system break down repeatedly and Tesla’s system design causes emissions to mechanically be vented immediately into the environment with out correct abatement because of this, even when abatement can nonetheless be accomplished. In different instances, the abatement tools is functioning correctly, however Tesla shuts the abatement system down when there are issues with Web page 2 of two 2024-027 different tools within the paint retailers. This has occurred even when these issues are brought on by Tesla employees or its contractors, and unabated emissions are despatched into the environment. The Bay Space Air High quality Administration District is the regional company chargeable for defending air high quality within the nine-county Bay Space. Join with the Air District through X/Twitter, Fb, Instagram and YouTube.
It’s regarding to me that this has been occurring since 2019 and are described as “frequent” and “recurring.” Why can this not be fastened? Why is that this not being remedied?
One of many key suggestions, or necessities, within the letter is as follows: “First, hire a third-party consultant to do an evaluation and make recommendations.” If that is the important thing subsequent step wanted, why has it not been accomplished but? This looks like a easy factor to do. Tesla is sitting on billions of {dollars} of money. Certainly, it will probably afford a advisor to higher examine this downside and provide you with some options?
The letter additionally notes that Tesla routinely turns off the abatement methods.
“In some cases, Tesla’s thermal oxidizer or related components of the abatement system break down repeatedly and Tesla’s system design causes emissions to automatically be vented directly into the atmosphere without proper abatement as a result, even when abatement can still be done. In other cases, the abatement equipment is functioning properly, but Tesla shuts the abatement system down when there are problems with other equipment in the paint shops.” I’m no third-party knowledgeable or advisor, however it looks like Tesla must discover a technique to separate this abatement system from another methods that result in the corporate shutting down abatement tools all too typically. Why is that this so laborious to determine and resolve?
