Connect with us
the-boring-company-UNLV-vegas-loop-update the-boring-company-UNLV-vegas-loop-update

News

The Boring Company’s San Antonio project not a high priority: “I don’t know what it accomplishes”

(Credit: Clark County Nevada)

Published

on

San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg doesn’t see the need for a Boring Company tunnel in his city. Mayor Nirenberg is focused on developing his transportation initiative, called ConnectSA, which he launched in April 2018. 

“We have a lot of transportation priorities. We need multimodal connectivity. I don’t see where a tunnel project fits into that. I don’t know what it accomplishes,” Mayor Nirenberg told the San Antonio Business Journal

The Alamo RMA’s Opinions

Others may have a different opinion of The Boring Company’s (TBC) tunnels than Nirenberg. In March, the Alamo Regional Mobility Authority (RMA) started negotiations with The Boring Company on a project for twin underground tunnels. 

Using the twin tunnels, Tesla vehicles could pass between the San Antonio International Airport and downtown. TBC estimated the San Antonio Loop project would cost upwards of $250 million.

A month after negotiations started, the Alamo RMA’s Board Chair Mike Lynd revealed the viability of a TBC tunneling project in San Antonio. Lynd also noted that the tunnels would be beneficial to the area. 

Advertisement

“I think it’s very real. I think this is something that has a chance to be a game-changer for San Antonio. This is a project that fixes congestion, increases mobility, and produces a revenue stream. It extends the useful life of our existing infrastructure,” said Lynd. 

Nonprofits Concerns for Endangered Species

Two nonprofits opposed The Boring Company’s plans for a San Antonio tunneling project. In a letter dated April 18, the Texas Cave Management Association (TCMA) and the Texas Speleological Survey shared their “major concerns” about the potential TBC tunnels with the Alamo RMA. 

The two nonprofit organizations believed that tunneling northeast of downtown San Antonio would damage areas home to springs and endangered species. 

“Out of the million and on places to build a tunnel, they had to pick the worst,” TCMA President Jim Kennedy said in an interview with the San Antonio Express-News. “There’s a whole bunch of places you could put a tunnel around San Antonio without gong through this specific area. There’s all kind of Red flags.” 

Nirenburg’s Focus

As for Nirenburg, he’s more focused on gaining support from Washington, D.C. for his ConnectSA initiative, which is currently concentrating on the VIA Advanced Rapid Transit (ART). In February 2022, ART received a favorable rating from the Federal Transit Administration, a critical step toward gaining access to federal funds. 

ART could be eligible to receive $158 million in federal funding since President Biden included the project on his funding recommendation list for fiscal 2023. Congress must approve funding before ART receives it. The project will establish a 12-mile route between the San Antonio International Airport to downtown and further south. Electric buses will shuttle passengers along the route. ART may expand to include an East-West route as well.

Advertisement

The Teslarati team would appreciate hearing from you. If you have any tips, reach out to me at maria@teslarati.com or via Twitter @Writer_01001101.

Maria--aka "M"-- is an experienced writer and book editor. She's written about several topics including health, tech, and politics. As a book editor, she's worked with authors who write Sci-Fi, Romance, and Dark Fantasy. M loves hearing from TESLARATI readers. If you have any tips or article ideas, contact her at maria@teslarati.com or via X, @Writer_01001101.

Advertisement
Comments

Energy

Tesla Lathrop Megafactory celebrates massive Megapack battery milestone

The Tesla Megapack is the backbone of Tesla Energy’s battery deployments.

Published

on

Credit: Tesla Megapack/X

The Tesla Lathrop Megafactory recently achieved a new milestone. As per the official Tesla Megapack account on X, the Lathrop Megafactory has produced its 15,000th Megapack 2 XL battery.

15,000 Megapack Batteries

Tesla celebrated the milestone with a photo of the Lathrop Megafactory team posing with a freshly produced Megapack battery. To commemorate the event, the team held balloons that spelled out “15,000” as they posed for the photo.

The Tesla Megapack is the backbone of Tesla Energy’s battery deployments. Designed for grid-scale applications, each Megapack offers 3.9 MWh of energy and 1.9 MW of power. The battery is extremely scalable, making it perfect for massive energy storage projects.

https://twitter.com/Tesla_Megapack/status/1932578971700638203

More Megafactories

The Lathrop Megafactory is Tesla’s first dedicated facility for its flagship battery storage system. It currently stands as the largest utility-scale battery factory in North America. The facility is capable of producing 10,000 Megapack batteries every year, equal to 40 GWh of clean energy storage.

Thanks to the success of the Megapack, Tesla has expanded its energy business by building and launching the Shanghai Megafactory, which is also expected to produce 40 GWh of energy storage per year. The ramp of the Shanghai Megafactory is quite impressive, with Tesla noting in its Q1 2025 Update Letter that the Shanghai Megafactory managed to produce over 100 Megapack batteries in the first quarter alone.

Advertisement

Tesla Energy’s Potential

During the first quarter earnings call, CEO Elon Musk stated that the Megapack is extremely valuable to the energy industry. 

“The Megapack enables utility companies to output far more total energy than would otherwise be the case… This is a massive unlock on total energy output of any given grid over the course of a year. And utility companies are beginning to realize this and are buying in our Megapacks at scale,” Musk said.

Continue Reading

News

Tesla launches “TeslaVision” video contest to celebrate Model Y deliveries

The program marks a revival of Tesla’s popular Project Loveday initiative back in 2017.

Published

on

Credit: Tesla Asia/X

Tesla has announced the TeslaVision Contest, a global video showcase inviting fans and owners to highlight the impact of the company’s vehicles on people. 

The program marks a revival of its Project Loveday initiative in 2017, which was extremely well-received by the electric vehicle community. 

A Contest to Celebrate the New Model Y

As per the TeslaVision contest’s official website, the program is being rolled out to commemorate the launch and deliveries of the new Model Y across all continents. Thus, the contest could be seen as a global celebration and showcase of owners and fans who made Tesla the household brand that it has become today.

Participants are tasked with creating a 90-second or shorter video demonstrating how Tesla vehicles provide “more freedom, more safety, more fun, more convenience.” Submissions must be uploaded to YouTube and shared on X and Instagram with the tag @Tesla and the phrase “TeslaVision contest.” 

Videos must align with Tesla’s mission to accelerate sustainable energy, be suitable for all ages, and avoid references to non-Tesla brands. English text or voice-overs are required, and entrants must relinquish rights to their content for Tesla’s commercial use.

Advertisement
https://twitter.com/Tesla/status/1932559030892802153

A Big Prize Awaits

When Tesla launched Project Loveday in 2017, the company noted that the contest’s winner would receive an all-expenses paid invitation to an upcoming Tesla product launch. For TeslaVision, the grand prize is a lot more tangible, with the winner receiving a new Model Y AWD. They will also get an all-expenses-paid trip to Gigafactory Texas. Second and third-place winners will also receive a Giga Texas tour. 

Finalists will be selected based on creativity, originality, relevance to the prompt, and entertainment value. Tesla will shortlist 100 videos, with the top 10 subject to public voting to influence the final judging. The contest is open to legal residents of the United States, Mexico, and Canada, aged 18 or older, with a valid driver’s license and Tesla account. No purchase is necessary, though entries are limited to just one per person. 

Continue Reading

News

Starlink India launch gains traction with telecom license approval  

Starlink just secured its telecom license in India! High-speed satellite internet could go live in 2 months.

Published

on

starlink-spain-portugal-blackout
(Credit: Starlink)

 

Starlink India’s launch cleared a key regulatory hurdle after securing a long-awaited license from the country’s telecom ministry. Starlink’s license approval in India paves the way for commercial operations to begin, marking a significant milestone after a three-year wait.

The Department of Telecommunications granted Starlink a Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) license, enabling it to roll out its high-speed internet service. Local reports hinted that Starlink plans to launch its services within the next two months. Starlink India’s services are expected to be priced at ₹3,000 per month for unlimited data. Starlink service would require a ₹33,000 hardware kit, including a dish and router.

“Starlink is finally ready to enter the Indian market,” sources familiar with the rollout plans confirmed, noting a one-month free trial for new users.

https://www.teslarati.com/starlink-india-launch-spectrum-rules/

Starlink’s low-Earth orbit satellite network promises low-latency, high-speed internet that is ideal for rural India, border areas, and hilly terrains. With over 7,000 satellites in orbit and millions of global users, Starlink aims to bridge India’s digital divide, especially in areas with limited traditional broadband.

Advertisement

Starlink has forged distribution partnerships with Indian telecom giants Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel to streamline deployment and retail logistics. However, the company still awaits spectrum allocation and final clearances from India’s space regulator, IN-SPACe, and national security agencies before its full launch, expected before August 2025.

India’s satellite internet market is becoming increasingly competitive, with Starlink joining rivals like OneWeb and Jio Satellite Communications. While Starlink positions itself as a premium offering, its entry has sparked debate among domestic telecom operators over spectrum pricing.

Local reports noted that other players in the industry have raised concerns over the lower regulatory fees proposed for satellite firms compared to terrestrial operators, highlighting tensions in the sector.

Starlink India’s launch represents a transformative step toward expanding internet access in one of the world’s largest markets. Starlink could redefine connectivity for millions in underserved regions by leveraging its advanced satellite technology and strategic partnerships. As the company navigates remaining regulatory steps, its timely rollout could set a new standard for satellite internet in India, intensifying competition and driving innovation in the telecom landscape.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending