Skip to main content
Michigan’s nonpartisan, nonprofit news source

Your support can help us meet our year-end campaign goal!

We’re in the homestretch of our year-end fundraising campaign, and we’re so close to our goal. Your support of any amount means so much to us, and helps us inform Michigan’s residents and communities. Will you support the nonprofit, nonpartisan news that makes Michigan a better place? Make your tax-deductible contribution today!

Pay with VISA Pay with MasterCard Pay with American Express Pay with PayPal Donate

Gotion scores court win in battle to build battery plant in Green Township

Big Rapids sign
A federal judge upheld a preliminary injunction requiring Green Township Board to comply with an agreement with Gotion Inc. to build a $2.4 billion EV battery plant. (Bridge photo by Paula Gardner)
  • A federal judge has upheld a preliminary injunction issued in May that allows Gotion to proceed with efforts to build a battery plant near Big Rapids
  • The newly elected township board is trying to stall the project, which the previous board approved 
  • The injunction requires the Green Township Board to comply with the development agreement Gotion signed with the previous board

Green Charter Township cannot impede Gotion Inc. from making progress on its $2.4 billion electric vehicle battery plant near Big Rapids while the company’s lawsuit against the township proceeds, a federal judge ruled Wednesday. 

U.S. District Judge Jane Beckering upheld a preliminary injunction issued in May. It requires the Green Township Board to adhere to the development agreement the battery manufacturer signed with the previously recalled township board, despite the current board’s efforts to stall the project. 

“The Court is not persuaded that such provides reason for this Court to “clarify”— let alone vacate — its decision that the Township is obliged to comply with the Development Agreement,” wrote Beckering in the ruling

Sponsor

Gotion filed a federal lawsuit in March alleging that the township broke the development agreement that requires the township to assist the company in obtaining “governmental authorizations necessary to advance and support the project.”  

Shortly after the new Green Township Board was elected in November, it rescinded a resolution supporting a water extension from the development site to water treatment facilities in Big Rapids, which prompted Gotion to file its lawsuit in March. 

Gotion included in its original proposal that it would need up to 715,000 gallons of water per day. The optimal solution would be a water line extension from the city of Big Rapids' water supply. 

Related:

During a board meeting in November, the board revoked a resolution the previous board passed to either route a water main directly from the Big Rapids system to the Gotion site or to construct a new city well and water plant on or near Gotion's property. 

The board also adopted an ordinance to establish its own planning commission shortly after Gotion submitted a site plan to the Mecosta County planning commission. 

The township’s planning commission created an interim zoning ordinance which would take effect before the county commission completed a full review of the company’s site plan, which trumps Mecosta County’s planning commission.

Sponsor

"We greatly appreciate the court's continued affirmation of our position and are eager to collaborate with the township to move this vital project forward," Chuck Thelen, vice president of Gotion Inc. said in a press statement. “The project will create more than 2,300 great-paying jobs to the families of this region.”

Many community members have criticized the project because of its potential environmental impact as well as Gotion’s ties to China. Gotion High-Tech Inc. was founded in China in 2006 but its U.S. subsidiary Gotion, Inc. was founded in 2014 in California. 

Last year, Green Township residents recalled the entire board, which supported the project, and replaced them with a new board.

The previous township board had entered an agreement with Gotion that required the board to “execute necessary easement documents to provide access to the property for any public infrastructure improvements,” but shortly after the agreement was signed, the board was recalled in October. 

How impactful was this article for you?

Business Watch

Covering the intersection of business and policy, and informing Michigan employers and workers on the long road back from coronavirus.

Thanks to our Business Watch sponsors.

Support Bridge's nonprofit civic journalism. Donate today.

Only donate if we've informed you about important Michigan issues

See what new members are saying about why they donated to Bridge Michigan:

  • “In order for this information to be accurate and unbiased it must be underwritten by its readers, not by special interests.” - Larry S.
  • “Not many other media sources report on the topics Bridge does.” - Susan B.
  • “Your journalism is outstanding and rare these days.” - Mark S.

If you want to ensure the future of nonpartisan, nonprofit Michigan journalism, please become a member today. You, too, will be asked why you donated and maybe we'll feature your quote next time!

Pay with VISA Pay with MasterCard Pay with American Express Pay with PayPal Donate Now