Battery Factory Plan Sparks Backlash in Rural Michigan
The idea of a Chinese company building a factory in a small Michigan town has ignited a firestorm of criticism.
Concerns Over Farmland and Local Impact
Many residents describe the land targeted for the factory as pristine farmland now facing potential destruction by industrial development. The site is located in Green Charter Township, just north of Big Rapids and approximately one hour from Grand Rapids.
What Is Gotion?
Gotion is a battery manufacturer primarily focused on lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries. Unlike traditional nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) batteries, LFP batteries can withstand harsh conditions. They won’t catch fire even if smashed with an ax or pierced with a nail, avoiding what’s known as a “thermal runaway” event.
However, LFP batteries tend to have a lower energy density than NMC batteries. They are great for powering heavy-duty trucks, but not so great for powering high-performance sports cars. In May, Gotion announced that its L600 Astroinno battery, which incorporates manganese into the traditional LFP recipe, would be located in Green Charter Township, near Big Rapids.
Why Michigan?
Gotion is planning to manufacture batteries in the US, spurred no doubt by the generous production credits provided by the Inflation Reduction Act. After an extensive search, it settled on a 270-acre parcel of land in Green Charter Township. Upon completion, the factory would produce 150,000 tons of cathode material and 50,000 tons of anode material annually. It would employ more than 2300 workers and cost about $2.3 billion. Gotion is anxious to get going. In 2021, it stated that it had a deal with an unnamed “major publicly traded US automaker” for 200 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of batteries per year.
State Investment and Political Support
Meanwhile, the state of Michigan is investing nearly $800 million in grants and tax exemptions from its strategic fund to support the project. Officials say the funding will bring jobs, attract customers, and strengthen economic activity in the region. Governor Gretchen Whitmer has praised the factory as a major win for the state.
