Posted on 02/18/2024 2:49:28 AM PST by Libloather
A Chinese green energy firm backed by Michigan's state government is tearing down trees to make way for a proposed electric vehicle (EV) battery plant designed to help the state meet its climate goals.
Gotion Inc. - whose parent company is Hefei, China-based Gotion High-Tech - said it has initiated its tree-cutting process this week to make way for its controversial EV project in Mecosta County, Michigan, which has received support from Democrats and climate activists, but opposition from Republicans and national security experts. The firm said the process is legal and pushed back against concerns raised by locals.
"It’s unfortunate that some extremist groups have targeted Mecosta County area businesses that want to work with Gotion Inc. to grow and strengthen jobs in our region," said Chuck Thelen, Gotion’s vice president of North American operations.
"A small minority of people continue to spread misinformation and manufacture lies about Gotion Inc., which invariably leads some residents to act out and make threats," he continued. "Despite these attempts at intimidation, the legal selective cutting of trees will start on Feb. 14."
Gotion first unveiled its development plans for the project in October 2022 alongside Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, agreeing to invest $2.4 billion in two 550,000-square-foot production plants and other supporting facilities across a large plot of land in Green Charter Township. Then, in August, the firm purchased 270 acres of land for the project, including land zoned for industrial, agricultural and residential use.
However, amid increasing opposition to the project over Gotion's ties to the Chinese Communist Party, the project has faced delays even as the Whitmer administration has earmarked nearly $200 million in taxpayer funding for the development. While mass tree-cutting to make way for construction was originally slated to occur late last year, the process was delayed...
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
-PJ
HELL no!
Our gummint is doing enough of this as it is!!
(Would 350 million be enough for a battry plant?)
In the New England states, nothing has changed much as they’ve ALWAYS been very protective of our trees.
They even give property tax incentives to leave your land in it’s natural state, by greatly reducing what you pay in property taxes for the parts you are not actively using for living, like the house, garage, gardens, and lawn.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.