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Tesla hires former White House official to lead Gov’t Relations & Policy for North America

Published

7 years ago

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Recent reports have emerged stating that Tesla has hired White House veteran Alexandra Veitch as its new North American lead for government relations and policy. Veitch, who served as a Special Assistant to former US President Barack Obama in the past, is reportedly starting her employment in Tesla today.

News of Veitch’s appointment was reported by American political news agency Politico, which dubbed the White House veteran as an “Obama Alumni,” and more recently, the VP for government relations at CSRA, a tech contractor for the US government. Veitch’s LinkedIn page still does not indicate that she works for Tesla, but a quick look at her background and past employment suggests that she would be an excellent hire for the electric car maker and energy company.

Veitch describes herself in her LinkedIn profile as someone who has “extensive experience at the highest levels of both the legislative and executive branch.” Her more than ten years worth of experience on Capitol Hill is also emphasized. 

Prior to her reported employment at Tesla, Veitch served as the VP of Government Relations for CSRA Inc. During her stay with the IT provider, she helped the company “refine and promote a unique public policy view for a new company, establishing CSRA as a leader on issues to include cybersecurity, IT modernization, and good government.”

Tesla reportedly welcomes White House veteran Alexandra Veitch as its new North American lead for government relations and policy. [Credit: LinkedIn]

Before joining CSRA Inc. on January 2017, Veitch served at the White House. From September 2015-January 2017, she worked as a Special Assistant to then-US President Barack Obama. According to Veitch’s LinkedIn profile, she “managed the President’s relationships with nearly 100 Members of Congress – both Democrats and Republicans, members of leadership, and Chairs and Ranking Members of committees – and represented his interests to legislative leaders.” She also served as the “subject matter expert within the White House on the legislative and oversight activities of the Energy and Commerce Committee, and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.”

Veitch was also employed as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Legislative Affairs in the US Department of Homeland Security. She was also a Senior Advisor and Director of Speechwriting to US politician Nancy Pelosi for more than seven years, from August 2005 – December 2012.

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Alexandra Veitch has a Bachelor of Arts in Diplomacy and Foreign Affairs from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, where she graduated cum laude. She also has a Masters in International Studies from the University of Sydney, Australia.

If Politico’s report proves accurate, Tesla would have gained a veteran in the government relations field with Veitch’s hiring. Her expertise, after all, would definitely come in handy, considering the circumstances surrounding the company. After all, while Tesla’s shares continue to rise in the stock market amid improvements in the Model 3 line, the company is still facing an investigation from the NTSB about a fatal Model X crash last month near Mountain View, CA, on top of an ongoing recall for the Model S. If Veitch’s background is any indication, however, Tesla’s government relations and policy would now be led by very experienced hands.

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Simon is an experienced automotive reporter with a passion for electric cars and clean energy. Fascinated by the world envisioned by Elon Musk, he hopes to make it to Mars (at least as a tourist) someday. For stories or tips--or even to just say a simple hello--send a message to his email, simon@teslarati.com or his handle on X, @ResidentSponge.

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Energy

Tesla lands in Texas for latest Megapack production facility

Published

2 weeks ago

on

March 5, 2025

By

(Credit: Tesla)

Tesla has chosen the location of its latest manufacturing project, a facility that will churn out the Megapack, a large-scale energy storage system for solar energy projects. It has chosen Waller County, Texas, as the location of the new plant, according to a Commissioners Court meeting that occurred on Wednesday, March 5.

Around midday, members of the Waller County Commissioners Court approved a tax abatement agreement that will bring Tesla to its area, along with an estimated 1,500 jobs. The plant will be located at the Empire West Industrial Park in the Brookshire part of town.

Brookshire also plans to consider a tax abatement for Tesla at its meeting next Thursday.

The project will see a one million square-foot building make way for Tesla to build Megapack battery storage units, according to Covering Katy News, which first reported on the company’s intention to build a plant for its energy product.

CEO Elon Musk confirmed on the company’s Q4 2024 Earnings Call in late January that it had officially started building its third Megapack plant, but did not disclose any location:

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“So, we have our second factory, which is in Shanghai, that’s starting operation, and we’re building a third factory. So, we’re trying to ramp output of the stationary battery storage as quickly as possible.”

Tesla plans third Megafactory after breaking energy records in 2024

The Megapack has been a high-demand item as more energy storage projects have started developing. Across the globe, regions are looking for ways to avert the loss of power in the event of a natural disaster or simple power outage.

This is where Megapack comes in, as it stores energy and keeps the lights on when the main grid is unable to provide electricity.

Vince Yokom of the Waller County Economic Development Partnership, commented on Tesla’s planned Megapack facility:

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“I want to thank Tesla for investing in Waller County and Brookshire. This will be a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility for their Megapack product. It is a powerful battery unit that provides energy storage and support to help stabilize the grid and prevent outages.”

Tesla has had a lease on the building where it will manufacture the Megapacks since October 2021. However, it was occupied by a third-party logistics company that handled the company’s car parts.

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Energy

Tesla Energy had a blockbuster 2024

Published

3 months ago

on

December 31, 2024

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Credit: Tesla

Tesla Energy has become the undisputed dark horse of the electric vehicle maker. This was highlighted by Tesla Energy’s growing role in the company’s overall operations in the past quarters. 

And as per Tesla’s year-end milestone posts on X, Tesla Energy had a blockbuster 2024.

Tesla Energy’s 2024 milestones:

  • As per Tesla on its official social media account on X, the company has hit over 800,000 Powerwalls installed worldwide. 
  • From this number, over 100,000 Powerwall batteries have been enrolled in virtual power plant (VPP) programs.
  • The Powerwall 3 has officially been launched in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, the U.K., Germany, Italy, Australia, and New Zealand.
  • The Tesla Megapack hit over 22 GWh in operation across more than 60 countries across the globe.
  • The Lathrop Megafactory, which produces the Megapack, has been ramped to 40 GWh per year. 
  • The Lathrop Megafactory has also produced its 10,000th Megapack battery.
  • The Shanghai Megafactory was completed in just seven months, and it is ready to start Megapack production in Q1 2025.

Powerwall owners’ 2024 impact:

  • As per Tesla Energy, Powerwall owners generated a total of 4.5 TWh of solar energy globally in 2024. This was equivalent to powering a Model 3 for more than 17 billion miles.
  • A total of 1.1 TWh of energy was stored in Powerwalls in 2024. This protected homes from over 5.8 million outages during the year.
  • Tesla’s Storm Watch feature for Powerwall batteries covered 2.8 million severe weather events over the year.
  • Powerwall owners saw collective savings of over $800 million on utility bills.
  • Virtual Power Plants contributed over 2.2 GWh of power to the grid. This reduced the need for 2,200 metric tons of fossil fuel peaker plant emissions.

Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.

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Energy

Utah’s rPlus Energies breaks ground on Tesla Megapack battery system

Published

6 months ago

on

September 24, 2024

By

Credit: Tesla

Utah-based rPlus Energies recently held the groundbreaking ceremony for the Green River Energy Center, a 400 MW solar PV and 400 MW/1,600 MWh battery storage project in Eastern Utah. Tesla Megapacks will be used as the upcoming facility’s battery storage solution. 

At 400 MW/1,600 MWh, the Green River Energy Center is expected to become one of the largest solar-plus-storage projects under development in the United States. Once operational, the facility would supply power to PacifiCorp under a power purchase agreement, as noted in a press release. 

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox shared his excitement for the project during the Green River Energy Center’s groundbreaking event. As per the Utah Governor, the solar and battery storage system represents a notable step forward for the state’s sustainable energy efforts. 

“This project is being built in rural Utah, by rural Utahns, and for all of Utah. When rural Utah thrives, the entire state prospers. Today, we’re not just breaking ground—we’re building a future of affordable, abundant energy in Utah,” the official noted. 

The Green River Energy Center secured over $1 billion in construction debt financing earlier this year. The facility is also expected to create about 500 jobs, many of which will be filled by local workers. With this in mind, the solar and battery farm would likely prove to be a boost to Emery County’s economy, enhancing tax revenue, strengthening public services, and offering long-term employment opportunities for the area’s residents. 

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Sundt Construction will serve as the project’s contractor, EliTe Solar will supply the solar modules, and Tesla will provide the battery storage system for the project. Luigi Resta, President and CEO of rPlus Energies, noted that the Green River Energy Center is special because of the entities that have worked together to make the facility a reality. 

“It’s the partners that make this project special, that have made this monumental project possible. From our equipment providers to the onsite talent, and the support of the local and regional community, we owe this project’s success to each of you,” he stated. 

Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.

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