Tesla breaks ground on Monday at new Robstown refinery
Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Governor Greg Abbott will speak at the ceremony. It comes about two months after Tesla pioneered the $375 million lithium-ion plant.
ROBSTOWN, Texas — Tesla held a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday to mark the construction of its new $375 million lithium refinery just outside of Corpus Christi. Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Texas Governor Greg Abbott were both in attendance.
Tesla is building the facility just southwest of Robstown, but within the Robstown ISD School District. This is important because it means Robstown ISD will ultimately be the beneficiary of the extra taxes generated by the facility.
The plant will produce lithium for batteries, and Tesla is touting it as the first of its kind in North America.
Nueces County Judge Connie Scott said this is a growth opportunity in Coastal Bend.
“Tesla’s investment in Nueces County, creating 150 new jobs, will strengthen our regional economy,” Scott said in a statement to 3NEWS. “This is an unprecedented opportunity and I will continue to work collaboratively to advance it.”
Abbott promotes Tesla plant as Texas future security provider
Governor Abbott credited Nueces County for helping Tesla expedite his permits during a speech in Corpus Christi on April 3. He also said this was an important step for Texas.
“Facilities like this lithium refinery are a critical component of our state strategy to make the state of Texas more self-sustaining,” Abbott said.
Abbott stressed the need for lithium and how rising tensions with China, where most of the lithium comes from, could cause a problem with how we function if that source is ever cut.
“That’s why part of our strategy is for the state of Texas to get involved in producing more lithium, refining more lithium so we are the point of origin for the lithium we need, and our businesses need to keep Texas thriving.” “. he said.
Site of the new Tesla plant
