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.
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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Green Charter Township has been locked in a
legal battle with Goshen,
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a Chinese battery manufacturer, for more than a
year now.
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At one time, Goshen was set to build a $2.6
billion electric vehicle battery factory near
00:19.639 --> 00:21.270
the central Michigan town.
00:21.479 --> 00:26.270
But last year, after new leadership in Green
Township changed its mind about the project,
00:26.559 --> 00:31.680
Goshen filed suit alleging it stands to lose
millions if the deal does not go through as
00:31.680 --> 00:33.029
originally agreed upon.
00:33.319 --> 00:38.202
Green leaders have countered with our Arguments
that the township's previous leaders were never
00:38.202 --> 00:41.002
authorized to execute a development deal with
Goshen.
00:41.283 --> 00:45.842
Now Green is digging in for its standoff in
court with Goshen and seeking funds from a
00:45.842 --> 00:51.283
somewhat unlikely source to help pay for the
challenge to a judge's decision in favor of the
00:51.283 --> 00:54.083
battery maker.
According to the Detroit News,
00:54.233 --> 01:00.522
the township has submitted a request for
$200,000 of McCosta County's Kansas excise tax
01:00.522 --> 01:03.243
revenue to help cover legal bills.
It's equal.
01:03.375 --> 01:07.795
To about 30% of the cannabis tax funding
awarded to the county by the state.
01:07.966 --> 01:13.246
The problem is that Green Township doesn't
allow cannabis retailers to set up shop within
01:13.246 --> 01:16.725
its confines.
As the report points out, most of the
01:16.725 --> 01:20.606
dispensaries in Macosta County are in nearby
big rapids.
01:20.725 --> 01:25.746
It's caused some controversy over Green wanting
a piece of the revenue from an industry it
01:25.746 --> 01:28.916
banned.
Green Township's issues with Goshen not only
01:28.916 --> 01:31.755
stem from the deal forged with its former
leadership.
01:32.209 --> 01:36.809
There are also concerns regarding the
environmental impact of the factory and
01:36.809 --> 01:41.639
Goshen's ties to China, but if the plant is
eventually built as originally planned,
01:41.889 --> 01:48.419
it could create as many as 2350 jobs while
gobbling up $175 million
01:48.610 --> 01:49.970
in state incentives.
