Gotion EV Battery Plant in Big Rapids

In March, The Right Place admitting no environmental impact studies existed. At the May 9th Green Charter Township Board Meeting, Gotion VP Chuck Thelen said environmental studies had been done by a Grand Rapids firm, but failed to provide either the name of the firm or the reports. The Right Place CEO Randy Thelen could not provide the name of the Grand Rapids firm or a date for when the public can expect the report. When asked about when we could expect to see the reports, replied that “it will come in time.” Groundbreaking is scheduled for July.

An environmental impact study (EIS) is an intensive research study which is conducted by a third party in development settings to measure a wide range of things, so that stakeholders can review the impacts of the project before they agree to it. Materials used; water and air intake; water and air discharge; health and safety hazards; spillage plans; a survey of existing wildlife and ecologies; projected impacts of the development on local watersheds, aquifers, wildlife, air quality, light pollution, and so on–all of this is information we would expect to find in an EIS. 

Permits are precisely that–permission granted by state regulatory agencies to do what developers say they’re going to do, which includes promises to go about things in certain ways. When developers violate the agreements made in these permits, they rarely risk closure–instead, they face fines, which are typically cut in half if they go uncontested. Fines for violating permits are notoriously cheaper than the cost of obtaining the permits themselves. More critically: permits do not entail anywhere near the scope of research contained in an EIS, as EISes are expensive, and such research is not budgeted for in the permitting process.

Environmental impact studies are typically in the initial documentation that’s provided to stakeholders–in this case, that includes the public, as we are both funding it as taxpayers and we are impacted as residents. That gives all stakeholders involved time to review the materials, run it past their own experts, and potentially request further studies or second opinions. With Gotion’s timeline of breaking ground in July, and no date yet for when we can expect to see an EIS, it’s clear that Gotion has no intention of allowing the public to properly review an EIS.

Gotion, Inc.  is a subsidiary of its Hefei, China-based parent company, Guoxuan High-Tech Company, Ltd., and whose holding company is the Nanjing China-based Nanjing Guoxuan Holding Group Company, Ltd. Gotion, Inc.’s Vice President is Chuck Thelen.

A private-public economic development corporation serving the greater Grand Rapids area, The Right Place partnered with the Mecosta County Economic Development Corporation to spearhead the Gotion project in Big Rapids. The Right Place’s CEO and President is Randy Thelen, cousins to Chuck Thelen.

The MEDC is the state of Michigan’s private-public economic development corporation, which has been spearheading megasite developments like these across the state. The funds approved and transferred by Michigan legislators for Gotion are in the MEDC’s keeping. Randy Thelen was recently appointed by Gov. Whitmer to MEDC’s Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF) board.

EGLE is the regulatory agency responsible for providing the permits for Gotion. Thus far, they’ve done absolutely nothing to prompt Gotion or state officials to insist on basic environmental impact due diligence, which falls outside of the scope of permitting. EGLE’s Director’s Management Assistant is Mary Beth Thelen.

The Green Charter Township Board unanimously voted to approve a motion to support Gotion in early 2023 with no input from the community, and with most residents having no idea what was happening. Supervisor Jim Chapman testified before both Michigan House and Senate Appropriations Committees that over 90% of residents were in support of the project, when in fact no polling had been conducted. Trustee Dale Jernstadt has signed a purchase agreement with Gotion for $20M for his property within the Gotion site.

The Mecosta County Board of Commissioners approved a motion to support Gotion in October of 2022, led by Chair Bill Routley. Board trustee Jerilynn Strong has testified before legislators stating over 90% of her constituents are in support of the project, with no polling data to support her claims. Bill Routley is an elder at Trinity Fellowship Church in Big Rapids, where Big Rapids Township Supervisor Bill Stanek and Ferris State University President Bill Pink are also members.

With no notable projects until Gotion, Mecosta County’s local economic development corporation is spearheaded by The Right Place’s Mecosta County liaison, Kelly Wawsczyk. The board treasurer is Bill Stanek, who supported Gotion from his position as Supervisor of the Big Rapids Township board.

On March 15th, Michigan’s House Appropriations Committee heard no testimonies from residents, and asked no questions about the environmental impact of the project before approving $175M in taxpayer funding for the Chinese-owned EV battery plant.

On April 20th, Michigan’s Senate Appropriations Committee, led by Sen. Sarah Anthony, voted 10-9 to approve the transfer of $175M to the Gotion project, despite outrage from residents and bipartisan warnings of national security risks. Only three democrats voted against the bill: Senators Rosemary Bayer, Jeff Irwin, and Sylvia Santana.