Less than three years ago, residents of a small rural township in the US state of Michigan packed a community hall to celebrate what many saw as a victory for local democracy over a Chinese-headquartered battery manufacturer.
As the new board quickly rescinded the Gotion plan, the residents applauded the defeat of a project they viewed as a “Trojan horse” that could bring undue Chinese Communist Party influence, environmental risks and irreversible changes to their way of life.
But the town could face a staggering financial price for that victory, leaving the community with an uncertain future.
Backed by Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, the proposed project was a 109-hectare (270-acre) campus to produce lithium iron phosphate cells and EV components on a site that included more than 24 hectares of protected wetlands.
It was designed to support Gotion Inc’s North American expansion and US efforts onshore critical supply chains. Gotion Inc is the US subsidiary of Gotion High-Tech Co Ltd, a China-based battery manufacturer.
