Apr 1, 2021

Environmental Cost of Green Technologies


The Fortune Magazine piece by Vivienne Walt on the Tesla Giga-Factory goes into the heart of today's environmental issues. The cost of developing new green technologies, considered by many a must, is high. Constructing a 700+ acre battery production plant might endanger the local ecosystem's balance while solving global environmental problems. It seems that Tesla is trying to do the right thing by hiring scientists to find and relocate the endangered lizards that live in the construction area. The problems, however, are global rather than local. Many green technologies rely on "dirty" processes executed further down the supply chain in less restrictive legal jurisdictions. Many believe that green tech is the only salvation for this planet. The only way to make a positive impact is through economies of scale that allow radical change. It means that there will be new big factories using large quantities of raw material, energy, and space. According to the Fortune article, a local judge ordered Tesla to stop removing trees from the construction site. Who is wrong, who is right are tough questions.  

 

https://fortune.com/2021/02/02/elon-musk-tesla-berlin-gigafactory-germany-europe-electric-cars-endangered-animals-lizards-snakes/

 

Elon vs. nature: Tesla is building its new Berlin factory on an endangered reptile habitat—will it matter? By  Vivienne Walt February 2, 2021

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