Today, the Tarrant County Commissioners Court agreed to hold off on consideration of a massive tax break to Rivian Automotive, the electric vehicle manufacturer, in part due to concerns raised by labor organizations and environmental groups and questions asked by Commissioners about the terms of the Tax Abatement Agreement.
In response, Sierra Club Conservation Director Cyrus Reed made the following statement.
“The Sierra Club appreciates the delay in consideration of a massive tax break for Rivian Automotive. While we support the development of electric vehicle manufacturing in Texas, we agree with the Labor Rights Community that more specificity around labor standards and salary levels are needed, along with strong community assurances on environmental safeguards and stewardship. Corporations do not deserve huge tax breaks, especially when they are unwilling to commit to real progress on labor and environmental standards.”
Sierra Club’s Lone Star Chapter and the Fort Worth Regional Group submitted written comments asking Tarrant County Judge B. Glen Whitley and the County Commissioners to delay a proposed 70 percent property county tax break to Rivian Automotive by 30 days. The electric vehicle manufacturer is considering building a large Electric Vehicle Manufacture west of Fort Worth on a 2,000 acre-ranch which straddles the Tarrant/Parker County border. The investment is estimated at $5 billion and could create up to 7,500 jobs. The proposed tax break by Tarrant County is on top of a proposal for a similar amount by Parker County -- which is due to take action September 27th -- and a package of tax breaks and incentives by the City of Fort Worth recently approved that is worth more than $400 million.
In asking the County to consider a 30-day delay, the Sierra Club was clear that while it supports the potential for manufacturing electric vehicles in Texas, and creating good-paying jobs, more information is needed about the labor and environmental standards that the manufacturer would be held to in return for major property tax breaks. Representatives from the United Auto Workers and Tarrant County Central Labor Council made similar comments. Sierra Club also asked for a community meeting with the County and Rivian to discuss the proposed project. The date for a new public meeting on the tax abatement agreement is expected to be announced soon.