State legislators are considering tax breaks of up to $500 million, and looking at waiving key provisions of the landmark California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), to attract Tesla Motors’ next gigawatt-scale battery factory. The project would cost an estimated $5 billion and create 6,500 jobs, but Tesla CEO Elon Musk had described California as a “long shot” for the investment. Representatives of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and the Sierra Club said the waiver would be unacceptable, particularly for a green leader like Tesla. “It does indicate that we have two systems of law in California,” said NRDC’s David Pettit, “one for the super rich, and one for the developer doing multifamily housing.” (h/t InsideClimate News for pointing us to this story)
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