Thank God: Tesla Cobalt Mine in Orinda's Sand Hill Neighborhood Back on Track
Source: Tesla Ouranus Cobalt Mine website
Orinda, CA—After a temporary halt due to the discovery of Native American artifacts, the proposed Tesla cobalt mine in Orinda’s Sand Hill neighborhood is back on track for development. Tesla has announced significant changes to the initial plans, shifting from an open-pit mine to an underground mining operation.
Leveraging assets and technology from his Boring Company, Elon Musk plans to hollow out Sand Hill, extract the ore, and leave a large cavity. Once mining activities cease, this cavity will eventually be repurposed as a giant self-storage facility. The design includes a dome with at least 20 feet of thickness between the surface and the cavity to optimize extraction and protect local infrastructure, such as residents' sprinkler systems.
"We are committed to optimizing cobalt extraction while ensuring minimal impact on the community," stated Carl Sharp, Director of Communications for the Tesla Auranus Cobalt Mine.
Orinda residents' reactions have been mixed. Many are excited about the long-term prospect of having a large self-storage facility close to home.
“This is going to make travel to our storage unit so much easier,” said Steve McDaniel, father of Topher McDaniel, a frequently mentioned local figure. "Currently, the nearest storage facility is near the Rheem shopping center, so having one in Sand Hill will be incredibly convenient."
However, not everyone is pleased with the change from an open pit to an underground mine. Carol Foster, a resident of Sand Hill, expressed her disappointment: “I always love taking the family on a tour of the world’s largest open pit mines every year. We were hoping to stay home next year and watch the mining from our veranda. I guess we will have to go to Chile instead.”
Some residents have even found a silver lining in the new plans. "I love watching that show 'Storage Wars.' Hopefully, they will film an episode in our new storage facility," one local enthusiast commented.
Tesla has asked residents to remove fragile items from precarious places in their homes due to potential shaking from the blasting and boring operations. "We are going to be blasting and boring 24/7. Our financial projections require it to make this mine payout," Sharp explained.
The Sleepy Hollow Swim and Tennis Club is negotiating a depth exception for the mine, which will pass under their pool. “We have an 8-foot deep end, and 20 feet does not leave us very much of a safety margin. We can’t have our pool drained into the mine if there is a mix-up, especially so close to the OMP championship,” stated an assistant coach for the team.
Despite the concerns, the future of the Tesla cobalt mine and the subsequent storage facility looks promising. Once residents realize the potential benefits, including storing boats and RVs locally, Tesla believes they will gain widespread support.
"The Native American artifacts can sit out in the open and rot for all I care. We will get back on track with our new plans and leave the archaeologists to play with their shovels on the surface while we progress," Carl Sharp concluded. “This makes the exciting partnership with Sleepy Hollow Elementary even more important. These tunnels are going to be relatively low in height, the optimum height for 4th or 5th graders to operate without having to stoop.”
As Tesla and the community work through the final details, many in Orinda are hopeful that the project will bring new opportunities and conveniences to their neighborhood.
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