Any lingering doubts Tulsans might have about whether Tesla is seriously considering building its next factory here vanished late Friday afternoon when company CEO Elon Musk arrived in town in his private plane.
Joined by Craig Hulse, Tesla’s director of policy and government affairs, Musk went directly to the proposed site of the plant, where he met with Gov. Kevin Stitt and Secretary of Commerce Sean Kouplen and the property owner. Jeff Stava, Vibrant and Inclusive Tulsa Team lead for the George Kaiser Family Foundation, also attended the meeting.
Officials have not disclosed where the site is.
We had a great visit with @elonmusk yesterday talking @Tesla in Tulsa!
Oklahoma is the right place for Tesla and I thank all of the Oklahomans who have shown their overwhelming support. Keep it up! #Tulsa4Tesla pic.twitter.com/eVhIeCIvwv
— Governor Kevin Stitt (@GovStitt) July 4, 2020
“To maximize our time together, we had set up a tent, table, chairs, some snacks and water on the site,” Kouplen said. “… You can see downtown from the site, we are up high on a hill, it is really a beautiful day. So we’re basically just having our little-over-an-hour conversation out there in the middle of the field.”
Stitt and Kouplen had discussed the project in person with Musk in May when they traveled to Florida for the launch of Musk’s manned SpaceX rocket. But Stitt recently invited Musk to visit Tulsa to get a feel for where the plant would be built.
“The site is very important to Elon. He likes to get a feel for it. He really goes based upon his kind of personal feeling,” Kouplen said. “So that was a big part of it, just letting him experience the drive from downtown to the site.”
“We showed him the site plan, what it would look like on the site. We obviously talked about things like utility access, and water and natural gas access … all the kind of the basics around the site and really just kind of tried to visualize what a Tesla plant would look like on that particular piece of land.”
The Associated Press and other media outlets have reported that Austin, Texas, and Tulsa are finalists for the electronic vehicle maker’s Cybertruck factory. The factory would employ approximately 7,000 people at the outset, Kouplen said, with the capacity to grow to as many as 20,000.
The factory would be built on at least 1,500 acres.
Late Friday night, Musk tweeted: “Thanks for hosting me in Tulsa today!”
Kouplen said he feels very good about Tulsa’s chance to land the electric vehicle giant, but work remains.
“We have the challenge of Tulsa being lesser known than Austin and getting his team comfortable with us as their potential site,” he said.
Everyday Tulsans have been key in making the city’s case, Kouplen said, and that work is more important than ever now.
“I know it’s easy to get Tesla fatigue because this has been going on a while, but we really are down to the wire and if we just hang in there and continue our support, being creative, continue with the videos and the tweets and the good ideas that we have been seeing come from our citizens, that will give us a much greater chance,” Kouplen said.
Mayor G.T. Bynum has been a vocal champion of the project. He reiterated his support Saturday, noting that Tulsa’s quality-of-life investments are part of what makes the city an ideal fit for Tesla.
“And there are still so many projects underway that will further elevate Tulsa as a world-class city,” Bynum said. “We’ve now spent several years at the city of Tulsa reforming our development processes to make this the best environment for a quick, reliable return on investment.”
Tulsa vs. Austin to get Tesla: A look at the stats
Population comparison
Austin population estimate in July 2019: 964,254
Tulsa population estimate in July 2018 (2019 not available): 400,669
Source: census.gov
Pictured: In this Jan. 14, 2019 file photo, a large Texas flag hangs from the Texas State Capitol as workers prepare the grounds for inauguration ceremonies in Austin, Texas.
Average home prices
Austin median housing price (2014-18): $312,300
Tulsa median housing price (2014-18): $133,900
Source: census.gov
Pictured: A home for sale in Tulsa in July 2009.
Education demographics
Austin residents with bachelor’s degree or higher (2014-18, age 25+): 50.4%
Tulsa residents with bachelor’s degree or higher (2014-18, age 25+): 30.8%
Source: census.gov
Pictured: James Flanders holds his diploma as he stands with University of Tulsa President Gerard P. Clancy, TU Board of Trustees chairman L. Duane Wilson and TU athletics director Derrick Gragg during a commencement ceremony in December 2016 before the team’s bowl game
Employment demographics
Austin total population (age 16+) in labor force (2014-18): 73.3%
Tulsa total population (age 16+) in labor force (2014-18): 65.6%
Source: census.gov
Pictured: Dell Chairman Michael Dell speaks during a news conference Monday, Sept. 25, 2006, in Austin, Texas.
Commute times
Austin average travel time to work (2014-18): 24.3 minutes
Tulsa average travel time to work (2014-18): 18.6 minutes
Source: census.gov
Pictured: Traffic flows along Interstate 44 near the interchange with U.S. 75 in Tulsa on January 29, 2020.
Income comparison
Austin median household income (2014-18) $67,462
Tulsa median household income (2014-18) $46,113
Source: census.gov
Pictured: Tulsa’s downtown skyline in August 2018.
Poverty levels
Austin people in poverty: 14.5%
Tulsa people in poverty: 19.7%
Source: census.gov
Pictured: Melvin Hughes, a homeless man hired by BBH Labs to provide and promote a mobile 4G Wi-Fi service during SXSW, holds the T-shirt he was given by the marketing agency in Austin, Texas in March 2012.
Population density
Austin population per square mile (2010): 2,653.2
Tulsa population per square mile (2010): 1,991.9
Source: census.gov
Pictured: The Texas Capitol and downtown buildings fade into the fog on Jan. 24, 2012, in Austin, Texas.
Notable colleges and universities
Austin: University of Texas-Austin; St. Edward’s University; Huston-Tillotson University; Concordia University; Austin Community College; Texas State University
Tulsa: University of Tulsa; Oral Roberts University; OU-Tulsa; OSU-Tulsa; Tulsa Community College
Pictured: In this Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012 photo, a statue of George Washington stands near the University of Texas Tower at the center of campus, in Austin, Texas.
Notable music festivals
Austin: South by Southwest (SXSW)
Tulsa: The Hop Jam
Pictured: Hanson performs at The Hop Jam Beer and Music Festival on May 19, 2019.
Landmark of note
Austin: Texas state capitol
Tulsa: Route 66
Pictured: In this March 11, 2019, photo, educators attending a rally to support funding for public schools in Texas fill the rotunda of the state capitol in Austin
Museum to visit
Austin: Blanton Museum
Tulsa: Philbrook Museum
Pictured: In this Feb. 12, 2018, photo, a woman passes Ellsworth Kelly’s “Austin” at the Blanton Museum of Art, in Austin, Texas.
Waterway of note
Austin: Lady Bird Lake
Tulsa: Arkansas River
Pictured: The Arkansas River with Tulsa’s downtown skyline in the background in May 2019.