Green Charter Township has been locked in a legal battle with Gotion, a Chinese battery manufacturer, for more than a year now. At one time, Gotion was set to build a $2.6 billion electric vehicle battery factory near the central Michigan town.
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But last year, after new leadership in Green Township changed its mind about the project, Gotion filed suit, alleging it stands to lose millions if the deal does not go through as originally agreed upon. Green leaders have countered with arguments that the township’s previous leaders were never authorized to execute a development deal with Gotion.
Now Green is digging in for its standoff in court with Gotion and seeking funds from a somewhat unlikely source to help pay for the challenge to a judge’s decision in favor of the battery maker. According to the Detroit News, the township has submitted a request for $200,000 of Mecosta County’s cannabis excise tax revenue to help cover legal bills. It’s equal to about 30% of cannabis tax funding awarded to the county by the state.
The problem is that Green Township doesn’t allow cannabis retailers to set up shop within its confines. As the report points out, most of the dispensaries in Mecosta County are in nearby Big Rapids. It’s caused some controversy over Green wanting a piece of the revenue from an industry it banned.
Green Township’s issues with Gotion not only stem from the deal forged with its former leadership. There are also concerns regarding the environmental impact of the factory and Gotion’s ties to China.
If the plant is eventually built as originally planned, it could create as many as 2,350 jobs while gobbling up $175 million in state incentives.
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WEBVTT
X-TIMESTAMP-MAP=LOCAL:00:00:00.000,MPEGTS:0
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Green Charter Township has been locked in a
legal battle with Goshen,
00:03.559 --> 00:06.949
a Chinese battery manufacturer, for more than a
year now.
00:07.159 --> 00:13.109
At one time, Goshen was set to build a $2.6
billion electric vehicle battery factory near
00:13.109 --> 00:14.750
the central Michigan town.
00:14.960 --> 00:19.750
But last year, after new leadership in Green
Township changed its mind about the project,
00:20.000 --> 00:25.159
Goshen filed suit alleging it stands to lose
millions if the deal does not go through as
00:25.159 --> 00:26.450
originally agreed upon.
00:26.760 --> 00:28.309
Green leaders have countered with.
00:28.680 --> 00:34.029
that the township's previous leaders were never
authorized to execute a development deal with
00:34.029 --> 00:36.930
Goshen.
Now Green is digging in for its standoff in
00:36.930 --> 00:41.880
court with Goshen and seeking funds from a
somewhat unlikely source to help pay for the
00:41.880 --> 00:45.560
challenge to a judge's decision in favor of the
battery maker.
00:45.759 --> 00:52.069
According to the Detroit News, the township has
submitted a request for $200,000 of McCosta
00:52.069 --> 00:56.279
County's cannabis excise tax revenue to help
cover legal bills.
00:56.319 --> 00:59.349
It's equal.
To about 30% of the cannabis tax funding
00:59.349 --> 01:04.040
awarded to the county by the state.
The problem is that Green Township doesn't
01:04.040 --> 01:07.839
allow cannabis retailers to set up shop within
its confines.
01:08.000 --> 01:13.000
As the report points out, most of the
dispensaries in Macosta County are in nearby
01:13.000 --> 01:16.680
big rapids.
It's caused some controversy over Green wanting
01:16.680 --> 01:19.750
a piece of the revenue from an industry it
banned.
01:19.919 --> 01:24.599
Green Township's issues with Goshen not only
stem from the deal forged with its former
01:24.599 --> 01:27.830
leadership.
There are also concerns regarding the
01:27.830 --> 01:31.779
environmental impact of the factory and
Goshen's ties to China.
01:32.029 --> 01:35.110
But if the plant is eventually built as
originally planned,
01:35.349 --> 01:41.879
it could create as many as 2350 jobs while
gobbling up $175 million
01:42.069 --> 01:43.580
in state incentives.
01:43.870 --> 01:45.949
I'm Ben Munson, and this is manufacturing now.
