Locals meet in Green Charter Township to voice their opinion on Gotion

GREEN CHARTER TOWNSHIP – On Wednesday, August 21, the Trump team, in collaboration with U.S. Senate candidate Mike Rogers, organized a rally in Green Charter Township to express opposition to Gotion North America’s proposed battery components plant.

Key issues included potential environmental impacts and the plant’s alleged ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Republican figures also spoke at the rally, including Rogers, House Representative John Moolenaar and former U.S. Representative Pete Hoekstra.

Participants expressed concerns about the power plant’s impact on national security, citing the plant’s alleged Chinese owner.

Green Charter Township resident Steve Lowry expressed concerns about the facility’s potential impact on the community and the environment.

“I’m not worried about the people. It’s about the ownership of the company,” he said. “The largest freshwater reserve in North America would be in a wetland; that’s my biggest concern.”

Lori Brock, owner of Majestic Friesians Farm, 21750 19 Mile Road, where the rally was held, stressed the importance of a fighting spirit.

“We will keep fighting until they pack their things and leave this community forever,” she said.

State Senator Lana Theis praised the local opposition.

“You have built an extraordinary grassroots army. It is difficult to oust an incumbent politician from office, but you did it and it will happen again in November,” she said.

Moolenaar spoke about broader national security concerns, highlighting the challenges posed by China’s global alliances – including the Trump campaign’s recent stance on the Gotion project.

“Right after our roundtable, Gotion came forward and said, ‘President (Donald) Trump supports Gotion.’ I think President Trump made that pretty clear yesterday,” he said, referring to a post Trump made on Truth Social in which he said he was not in favor of Gotion gaining a foothold in Michigan and that it would be a bad thing.

Rogers said the CCP is trying to establish roots on American soil through facilities like Gotion’s.

“They are very aggressive and they don’t have our interests at heart. This is our chance to stand up and tell Washington DC, where they don’t seem to be listening to us, that we will not allow a Chinese company with Chinese interests to take away American jobs in our community,” he said.

While the rally focused on opposition to the power plant, supporters of Gotion were also present.

Tracy Ruell, candidate for state representative for the 100th District, was in attendance and said the reaction from passersby was inspiring.

“The support we felt strengthened us and gave us new energy, and there is no one you can talk to who wasn’t in a celebratory mood. It was a great day and a great result and we were very happy to be able to support Gotion,” she said, adding that one opposition member’s reaction to her presence was “ridiculous.” “We had a grown man going at teenage girls with a megaphone and calling them communists… we just try to be respectful to everyone.”

Ruell urged people to think about the future as there is a lack of economic opportunities in the region.

“Our local leaders have done nothing to attract businesses that provide our community with the opportunity to earn middle-class wages. It’s not that we’re at the point where we can’t choose. It’s a necessity,” she said.

She said many opposition members may not need the economic opportunities that the Gotion project would potentially bring.

“The people I know who are against this project are not worried about their housing or where they get their food. These people have it good, and when you have it good, you don’t necessarily look around,” she said.

Chuck Thelen, vice president of Gotion Inc. North American Manufacturing, defended the project and emphasized its economic benefits to the local community.

“As the project moves forward, we will spend nearly $2.3 billion … and $106 million in payroll at this site when we are running at full speed,” he said.

Thelen also mentioned the legal dispute between the Green Charter Township board and Gotion, adding that the judge upheld the development agreement that the former board agreed to.

“I can tell you that we have already received two opinions from the judge which clearly state that the legality of our document … is not contested,” he said.

He stressed that the plant would potentially create new jobs and boost the economy.

Thelen also addressed concerns about the ownership of the plant, stressing that Gotion Inc. is an American company and has been registered in the United States for ten years.

“We are relocating jobs domestically. I don’t think anyone can complain about this goal,” said Thelen.