Opposition to a Chinese company’s plan to build a battery plant in Kankakee County is growing as more revelations come to light. The Center Square reports on the concerns surrounding the project.
Gotion has been granted more than $8 billion in federal and state subsidies for its Manteno, Illinois, plant. The company is also intending to construct another facility in Michigan, where Illinois U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood, R-Peoria, participated in a roundtable discussion on Gotion’s connection to the Chinese Communist Party.
LaHood expressed his concern over the decision of governors such as J.B. Pritzker and Gretchen Whitmer to burden taxpayers with federal subsidies for companies that are tied to controversial entities like the CCP. Although he acknowledges the significance of promoting business growth, LaHood finds it unacceptable to put taxpayers at risk in exchange for such incentives.
In Michigan, the construction of a plant that was intended to provide parts for the Manteno project has met with resistance. The Green Charter Township recently held a recall election, which resulted in the removal of five board members who supported granting tax breaks to Gotion, the plant’s developer.
According to U.S. Representative John Moolenaar, who hails from Michigan, individuals are supportive of job opportunities in their vicinity. However, if there is a connection to the Chinese Communist Party, their views change.
Representatives LaHood and Moolenaar recently proposed the NO GOTION Act, which aims to prevent companies associated with the Chinese Communist Party from benefiting from the green energy production tax credits introduced by the Biden Administration through the Inflation Reduction Act. This bill seeks to ensure that taxpayers’ income is not used to support oppressive nations.
During the roundtable discussion, Amanda Piker, one of the founding board members of Concerned Citizens of Manteno, actively participated.
Piker stated that Gotion’s operations are only possible due to the significant tax subsidies provided by the state and federal governments. He further added that they are essentially funding something they don’t believe in and don’t have faith in.
According to Chuck Thelen, the Vice President of North American Operations, there is no connection between Gotion and the Chinese Communist Party.
In a statement, Thelen emphasized that Gotion High-Tech is an international private enterprise that operates independently. The company’s business decision-making process is not influenced by the political affiliation of its employees. Thelen also emphasized that Gotion is committed to complying with all laws and regulations in the countries where it conducts business, and providing their customers with high-quality products.
On September 30, a judge is expected to make a decision on whether to allow a lawsuit to proceed, which aims to halt the Manteno plant. The lawsuit alleges that the plant violates zoning laws and poses chemical hazards.