A Chinese green energy company backed by the Michigan state government is cutting down trees to make way for construction of an electric vehicle (EV) battery factory planned to help the state meet its climate goals. .
Goshon, whose parent company is Hefei, China-based Goshon High-Tech, is clearing trees this week to make way for a controversial EV project in Mecosta County, Michigan, which is backed by the Democratic Party and Democrats. announced that it had started. Climate activists are against it, but so are Republicans and national security experts.
The company said the process was legal and was pushed back in response to concerns from local residents.
“It is unfortunate that some extremist groups are targeting businesses in the Mecosta County area that want to work with Goshon to expand and strengthen jobs in the region.” Goshon’s North American operations said Chuck Thelen, vice president.
“A small number of people continue to spread misinformation and fabricate lies about Goshon, which always leads some residents to take action and intimidate them,” he continued.
“Despite these attempts at intimidation, the legal selective felling of trees will begin on February 14th.”
Goshon first announced development plans for the project in October 2022 with Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, which will include two 550,000-square-foot production plants and other support facilities on a large tract of land in Green Charter Township. agreed to invest $2.4 billion.
Then, in August, the company purchased 270 acres of land for the project, including land zoned for industrial, agricultural and residential use.
But the project has faced delays, even though the Whitmer administration has earmarked nearly $200 million in tax dollars for the development, amid growing opposition to the project over Gothion’s ties to the Chinese Communist Party.
The extensive clearing for construction was originally scheduled to take place late last year, but that work has been postponed until this week.
Crain’s Detroit Business reported earlier this week that one local logging company was awarded the contract but ultimately backed out after strong local opposition, not wanting to be “bound to a ragtag group.” Ta.
Opponents appear to be led in part by Marjorie Steele, founder of the Michigan Alliance for Economic Development Responsibility.
“To date, the City of Gothion has not applied for an environmental permit through EGLE, has not applied for a soil erosion permit through the county, and has not presented a site plan to local or state officials. “We are preparing to document the site by the end of this month,” Steele wrote in a letter to the local U.S. Environmental Protection Agency office last month.
“This environmental situation is coming to a head,” she continued.
“On behalf of the local community, we urgently reiterate our call for the EPA Region 5 office to take action on the necessary federal oversight of this development before violations occur.”
Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy spokesman Jeff Johnston confirmed in a statement to Fox News Digital that Goshon has not yet filed a permit application with the agency for the project or logging plans.
However, he said permits would only be required if work was to be carried out on wetlands.
“An EGLE permit is not required for tree removal if the removal is not within a regulated wetland,” Johnston said.
In addition to local residents, the project has faced opposition from national security experts and state and federal lawmakers.
At a House hearing last month, former CIA director Leon Panetta and Mike Pompeo warned that Goshon’s project could be covertly used by Chinese assets for espionage.
This week, Republican Michigan Sens. Jonathan Lindsay and Lana Theis called on the Whitmer administration to halt funding for the project, given the concerns raised by Panetta and Pompeo.
“National security experts on both sides of the aisle are sounding the alarm on China’s efforts to infiltrate our country and undermine our security through industrial espionage,” Lindsay said in a statement Wednesday.
“Yet, Governor Gretchen Whitmer continues to ignore their warnings and spend taxpayer dollars to do so, further endangering our state and nation.”
Whitmer’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
