GREEN CHARTER TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Chuck Thelen, VP of North American Operations for Gotion Inc., has released a new picture of what their electric vehicle battery plant will look like in Green Charter Township.
"Those renderings follow Gotion standards worldwide," said Thelen. "We like to have nice looking buildings that are soundproof, and we also like to have nice looking facilities out front."
The new rendering shows four large buildings where battery cathodes will be manufactured.
"Right now there are about 740,000 square foot each, so if you think about that, for buildings at 740 each, that's roughly three million feet under roof," said Thelen.
Currently, the company has been clearing trees on its Green Charter Township property that borders Big Rapids Township. As for their timeline, they're still hoping to break ground this year.
"We definitely want to break ground in 2024," said Thelen. "As a matter of fact, a small portion of the property we already got the permits, in hand."
The increase in demand for electric vehicles and their batteries is part of the push that has drawn large investments from local and state governments across the country.
In 2023, $4 billion in state funding was pledged to electric vehicle battery plants in Michigan, including Gotion.
While touring the LG Energy Solution plant in Holland last week, former Michigan governor and current U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm spoke on these investments and Gotion's plans for Michigan.
"It's up to those towns, right? The question is, do you want to be part of a clean energy future?" asked Granholm. "So there is some pushback I understand that, but honestly, we want to continue to drive forward and have these batteries and these vehicles made in the United States. We want to get this investment. You know, the other years ago we saw (China) poach our investment. We're getting it back that we're fighting to get these jobs back."
Gotion has undergone some controversy, some in the community, along with politicians have claimed that the company is linked to the Chinese Communist Party. Others include the potential for environmental hazards to watersheds, like the Muskegon River. All claims Thelen has denied.
"At the end of the day," said Thelen, "Gotion is putting American jobs on American soil for American customers. That is my goal."
Court documents show that Gotion Inc., an electric vehicle battery plant, filed a lawsuit in Federal Court against Green Township Charter Township last month.
The lawsuit alleges Green Township failed to approve a water line for the project, which is stated as being a violation of the development agreement.
In response, the Mecosta Environmental Security Alliance (MESA) stated the original agreement under the previous township board was reached without a public meeting, making it a violation of the Opening Meetings Act.
Due to this, the MESA said the lawsuit is not legitimate.
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