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“the Gotion plant” Voters in a sparsely populated Michigan county have scored a notable triumph as newly elected officials wasted no time in reversing the previous administration’s endorsement of a controversial battery plant project linked to a Chinese company.
On their first day in office Thursday, four freshly sworn-in commissioners in Mecosta County – Greg Adams, Jeff Jackson, Gary Lambrix, and Chris Zimmerman – took swift action to annul Resolution 2023-04. This resolution, approved by their predecessors, had extended official backing to the construction of an electric vehicle battery facility by Gotion Inc. in Green Charter Township. The reversal passed with a 5-2 vote, with Commissioners Chris Jane and Bill Routley dissenting.
Weeks before the 2022 election, @gretchenwhitmer was so desperate for a win that she announced she was bringing a CCP-linked battery plant to Michigan.
I knew immediately what this meant and fought back.
Two years later, it's now the key issue in our battleground state. pic.twitter.com/6cxWdkE9pY
— Tudor Dixon (@TudorDixon) October 9, 2024
“New information and developments have emerged concerning the project and its ownership structure with direct ties to the Chinese Communist Party CCP and broader issues of foreign investment,” the new resolution stated, according to the Pioneer.
While Gotion maintains headquarters in Silicon Valley, its parent company, Gotion High Tech, is based in China. To advance the project locally, Gotion engaged in covert negotiations with Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer, other lawmakers, and allegedly even bribed certain previous township board members to secure their approval.
For years, area residents have made their opposition to the Gotion facility resoundingly clear, despite promises of over 2,300 new jobs. Concerns over potential communist infiltration and environmental impacts have fueled their resistance.
In fact, Green Charter residents’ opposition was so vehement that they ousted their entire seven-member township board in 2023 – recalling five members through the ballot box while the other two resigned.
Adams, Jackson, Lambrix, and Zimmerman, who ran for county commissioner on an anti-Gotion platform in 2024, appeared to heed this sentiment. Newly elected Board Chair Zimmerman noted that local leaders had disregarded constituents’ views for too long.
“When 92% of the Mecosta County residents opposed the Chinese battery plant in our community, the board of commissioners should have listened,” he remarked.
“All four of us opposed Gotion,” Zimmerman continued, “and we hope the passage of this resolution will help heal the divide in our community. Moreover, as long as the four of us are on the commission, we will no longer ignore the will of the people.”
China is buying up US Farmland & MI Gov Whitmer is helping them replace American manufacturing! WHO GOT PAID FOR THIS?
🚨Whitmer gave $700M in taxpayer $ to fund a Chinese Battery Plant. It requires a CCP organization on site. They’re bringing in Chinese Nationals for the jobs! pic.twitter.com/pDq2U4sEzf
— LionHearted (@LionHearted76) March 24, 2023
Zimmerman also acknowledged the risks of permitting a Chinese firm to establish operations in Mecosta County. “When our congressman [John Moolenaar] says there are security concerns with China in our community, the board of commissioners should have reversed their approval of the project,” he stated.
President-elect Donald Trump issued a similar warning about Gotion in August. “The Gotion plant would be very bad for the State and our Country. It would put Michiganders under the thumb of the Chinese Communist Party in Beijing. I AM 100% OPPOSED!” he posted online.
While the Mecosta County board has now voiced its opposition to the Gotion plant, the practical implications of rescinding the resolution remain unclear as the project is currently mired in litigation.
Gotion did not respond to Blaze News’ request for comment.
