**Tesla’s Fremont Plant Accused of Violating Clean Air Act**
**The Lawsuit**
The Environmental Democracy Project has taken legal action against Tesla, alleging that the automaker violated the Clean Air Act at its Fremont plant. The lawsuit claims that Tesla has been in violation of emissions rules since at least January 2021.
**Notices of Violation**
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District has issued hundreds of Notices of Violation to Tesla since 2019, specifically related to the company’s polluting paint shop.
**Financial Penalties**
In response to the violations, the Environmental Democracy Project is seeking over $120,000 per day in fines for each day that Tesla breached emissions regulations.
**Environmental Impact**
The lawsuit accuses Tesla of exposing workers and residents near its California facility to harmful substances such as nitrogen oxides, arsenic, and cadmium through its paint shop operations.
**Regulatory Action**
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District has sought an order to address the frequent and recurring air quality violations at Tesla’s Fremont plant, emphasizing the harmful impact of illegal air pollution emissions.
**Previous Incidents**
This is not the first time Tesla has faced environmental scrutiny. In Germany, the company was accused of endangering drinking water, while in California, it settled a hazardous waste mishandling lawsuit for $1.5 million.
**Legal Action**
The Environmental Democracy Project is pursuing legal action against Tesla as a concerned citizen, seeking an injunction to stop excess pollution and civil fines of up to $121,275 per day for Clean Air Act violations.
