California may be willing to be less strict with Tesla Motors (TSLA) to bring the upcoming gigafactory to the state.
The state of California could give Tesla waivers to speed up the process of setting up the gigafactory. These waivers would allow the electric-car company to move past several parts of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Lawmakers are trying to put a package together for the company before the the legislative session ends in August, reports The Los Angeles Times.
Included in the package of offers to tempt Tesla into setting its gigafactory up in California are several tax breaks that would be worth $500 million. This would account for about 10% of the $5 billion cost that it would take to create the gigafactory. California is competing against Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas for the gigafactory, L.A. Times notes.
“It would be incompatible with the mission of the company to request a waiver from this legislation. We want to make sure the integrity of CEQA is preserved,” a Tesla spokesperson told Quartz. “It’s not about a waiver it’s about timing, that’s the critical issue here, what we are asking for is an expedited process that is fair for all stakeholders and that would allow California to be a viable candidate for the gigafactory.”
