Opponents of Marshall, Michigan battery plant seize on Bill Ford's warning
LANSING — Opponents of Ford Motor's Co. under-construction $2.5 billion, 1,700-job electric vehicle battery plant 100 miles West of Detroit in Marshall, Mich. welcomed Bill Ford's warning that it is at risk if federal production tax credits go away, saying residents never wanted the factory.
Marshall Township Treasurer Glenn Kowalske and grassroots activist Julie Ann Bryant, critics of the project that was announced in 2023, were given the floor on June 4 to voice their concerns to the Republican-led Michigan House Oversight Committee's corporate subsidies and state investments subcommittee, which is scrutinizing economic development deals.
Ford's BlueOval Battery Park Michigan was thrust back into the spotlight last week when Bill Ford, the Dearborn-based automaker's executive chairman, said if Congress makes the plant ineligible for a key manufacturing subsidy due to its ties to China-based Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL), it would 'imperil what we do in Marshall.' The project also is being supported with state and local tax incentives and state infrastructure grants.
'I'm encouraged that the project could be stopped,' said Kowalske, who won election in November. 'It's going to sound funny because it's 60 percent complete, right? However, I think right from the beginning … the community really didn't want this facility. It didn't want this industrial development. We still don't want it.'
Future Product
Find our what powertrains, redesigns and freshenings are planned for the next four years.
View the list
Brand future product timelines
The Committee for Marshall-Not the Megasite tried to challenge the development with a referendum but lost in trial and appellate courts, which ruled the matter could not go to voters because Marshall included an appropriation in an ordinance rezoning the land. Its appeal is pending before the Michigan Supreme Court.
'It certainly is frustrating that so much time, energy and resources (have) been spent using taxpayer dollars to destroy a community like yours for a project that may not even come to fruition.' the subcommittee chair, Rep. Steve Carra, R-Three Rivers, told Kowalske. 'But I'm encouraged that there's a chance that it may not come to fruition. I appreciate the hard work that you and everybody else has put into shedding light on what's going on in your community there.'
The hearing was one-sided in favor of the factory's opponents.
The Michigan Economic Development Corp. will testify in support of the project and answer legislators' questions at a second hearing next week, Carra said. He publicly called on James Durian, CEO of the Marshall Area Economic Development Alliance, to be there, too, alleging that Durian had been unresponsive to requests to testify.
In a letter to Carra and other subcommittee members released later on June 4, Durian said he will not attend the meeting. He highlighted the plant's benefits, saying more than 1,500 construction workers are at the site daily and it will eventually have 1,700 long-term, high-paid workers.
Sign up for the quarterly Automotive News U.S. Sales report to get data and news sent to your inbox as soon as it's compiled.
'It's important this project stays on track so we can continue to experience the economic boost already being felt as our small businesses, shops and restaurants see an uptick in foot traffic,' he wrote. 'This kind of economic growth is hugely important for our region, which has seen population decline and job losses over the past 20 years. Ford BlueOval Battery Park Michigan is helping us reverse that trend.'
MAEDA noted that more than 100 Marshall-area business owners, school leaders, elected officials and other community stakeholders sent a letter to Michigan's congressional delegation last week backing the plant and urging the tax credit's preservation.
A House-passed tax plan would end the credit and restrict the use of Chinese components and technology. The bill is now in the Senate.
'The economic impact of this investment on this region cannot be overstated,' the letter stated.
MEDC spokesperson Otie McKinley said the agency 'continues to support Ford and their investment plans that will help Michigan secure our position as the global leader in mobility and highly advanced manufacturing.'
In the hearing, however, critics told lawmakers their voices were ignored, blaming many factors including that key state and local elected officials signed non-disclosure agreements preventing them from gauging the community's interest in such a project.
'There are so many reasons that the residents didn't want this factory in our small town of 7,000 people,' said Bryant, who administers the Stop the CPP Ford Marshall Megasite group on Facebook. 'This is a national security issue. This is a corporate welfare issue. This is a huge environmental issue.'
Rep. Dylan Wegela, D-Garden City, expressed concern that a 'dark money'-backed advertising campaign — one that the Detroit Free Press has tied to Democrats and allies of Whitmer — made it harder to fight the plan.
Carra, like Wegela, opposes economic development subsidies for businesses generally — though other legislators in both parties have backed them over time.
Carra said the federal government should 'look very closely' at the BlueOval Battery Park and Gotion Inc.'s $2.4 billion EV battery plant near Big Rapids and see that 'communities don't want these things.' Ford's comments, he said, 'are indicative that this is abundantly dependent on taxpayers' dollars, that people are not buying this product (EVs) near at the demand that is being supplied by government. Continuing to shed light on this is I think of importance.'
Ford told reporters after a panel discussion at the Mackinac Policy Conference that it is fine for politicians to agree or disagree on things like production tax credits.
'But don't change the rules once you've already made the investment, because that to me is just a question of fairness, and that's unfair,' he said.
Have an opinion about this story? Tell us about it and we may publish it in print. Click here to submit a letter to the editor.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Black America Web
35 minutes ago
- Black America Web
President Donald Trump Orders Bombing Of 3 Iran Nuclear Sites, Democrats Frozen Out From Intel
Source: HAYI / Getty After initially stating to mull the decision for a time, President Donald Trump ordered the bombing of three nuclear sites in Iran on Saturday (June 21), which has escalated the conflict to unprecedented levels. Top Democratic Party officials say that they were not briefed on President Trump's actions, and a national address from the former business mogul claimed a total annihilation of Iran's nuclear weapons production capabilities. As seen in an NBC News report, President Trump boasted of the bombing of three sites in Iran, Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan, which the administration framed as the epicenter of Iran's nuclear weapons production. This comes as the two countries are locked in a long-distance skirmish that has left over 400 dead in Iran and over 24 dead in Israel. 'We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan,' Trump wrote on Truth Social shortly after the attack. The move garnered praise from several GOP officials, including Speaker Mike Johnson, who stated that Congress would have taken too long to give its approval to Trump. Democratic Party Sen. John Fetterman praised Trump's actions, writing on X, 'Iran is the world's leading sponsor of terrorism and cannot have nuclear capabilities. I'm grateful for and salute the finest military in the world.' Fetterman's stance differs from those of his party, many of whom said that they were left out of briefing talks ahead of the strikes. Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican congressman out of Kentucky, called Trump's actions 'unconstitutional' via social media. Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia wrote on X of the bombing, 'The American public is overwhelmingly opposed to the U.S. waging war on Iran. And the Israeli Foreign Minister admitted yesterday that Israeli bombing had set the Iranian nuclear program back 'at least 2 or 3 years'. So what made Trump recklessly decide to rush and bomb today? Horrible judgment. I will push for all Senators to vote on whether they are for this third idiotic Middle East war.' House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York shared in a statement, 'President Trump misled the country about his intentions, failed to seek congressional authorization for the use of military force and risks American entanglement in a potentially disastrous war in the Middle East.' United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres also took to X to give a statement regarding the strikes: I am gravely alarmed by the use of force by the United States against Iran today. This is a dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge – and a direct threat to international peace and security. There is a growing risk that this conflict could rapidly get out of control – with catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region, and the world. I call on Member States to de-escalate and to uphold their obligations under the @UN Charter and other rules of international law. At this perilous hour, it is critical to avoid a spiral of chaos. Source: Pool / Getty Late Saturday night, Trump was flanked by Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Jim Hegseth, and State Secretary Marco Rubio, praising the efforts of the military strike. 'I want to thank the Israeli military for the wonderful job they've done, and most importantly, I want to congratulate the great American patriots who flew those magnificent machines tonight and all of the United States military on an operation the likes of which the world has not seen in many, many decades,' President Trump said. On X, the reaction to the Iran bombing and the fear of retaliation cast gloom across the social media network. We've got reactions below. — Photo: Getty President Donald Trump Orders Bombing Of 3 Iran Nuclear Sites, Democrats Frozen Out From Intel was originally published on Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE
Hamilton Spectator
an hour ago
- Hamilton Spectator
What to know about the Supreme Court ruling 10 years ago that legalized same-sex marriage in the US
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling 10 years ago this month, on June 26, 2015, legalized same-sex marriage across the U.S. The Obergefell v. Hodges decision followed years of national wrangling over the issue, during which some states moved to protect domestic partnerships or civil unions for same-sex partners and others declared marriage could exist only between one man and one woman. In plaintiff James Obergefell's home state of Ohio, voters had overwhelmingly approved such an amendment in 2004 — effectively mirroring the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which denied federal recognition of same-sex couples. That laid the political groundwork for the legal challenge that bears his name. Here's what you need to know about the lawsuit, the people involved and the 2015 ruling's immediate and longer term effects: Who are James Obergefell and Rick Hodges? Obergefell and John Arthur, who brought the initial legal action, were long-time partners living in Cincinnati. They had been together for nearly two decades when Arthur was diagnosed with ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, in 2011. Obergefell became Arthur's caregiver as the incurable condition ravaged his health over time. When in 2013 the Supreme Court struck down the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which had denied federal recognition of same-sex marriages, the pair acted quickly to get married. Their union was not allowed in Ohio, so they boarded a plane to Maryland and, because of Arthur's fragile health, married on the tarmac. It was when they learned their union would not be listed on Arthur's death certificate that the legal battle began. They went to court seeking recognition of their marriage on the document and their request was granted by a court. Ohio appealed and the case began its way up the ladder to the nation's high court. A Democrat, Obergefell made an unsuccessful run for the Ohio House in 2022. Rick Hodges, a Republican, was director of the Ohio Department of Health from August 2014 to 2017. The department handles death certificates in the state. Before being appointed by then-Gov. John Kasich, Hodges served five years in the Ohio House. Acquainted through the court case, he and Obergefell have become friends. What were the legal arguments? The lawsuit eventually titled Obergefell v. Hodges argued that marriage is guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution's Fourteenth Amendment, specifically the due process and equal protection clauses. The litigation consolidated several lawsuits brought by same-sex couples in Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee who had been denied marriage licenses or recognition for their out-of-state marriages and whose cases had resulted in conflicting opinions in federal circuit courts. In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court ruled the right to marry is fundamental, calling it 'inherent in the liberty of the person,' and therefore protected by the Constitution. The ruling effectively nullified state-level bans on same-sex marriages, as well as laws declining to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions. The custody, property, tax, insurance and business implications of of the decision have also had sweeping impacts on other areas of law. How did the country react to the decision? Same-sex marriages surged in the immediate wake of the Obergefell decision, as dating couples and those already living as domestic partners flocked to courthouses and those houses of worship that welcomed them to legalize their unions. Over the ensuing decade, the number of married same-sex couples has more than doubled to an estimated 823,000, according to June data compiled by the Williams Institute at the University of California Los Angeles School of Law. Not all Americans supported the change. Standing as a national symbol of opponents was Kim Davis, a then-clerk in Rowan County, Kentucky, who refused to issue marriage licenses on religious grounds. She was briefly jailed, touching off weeks of protests as gay marriage foes around the country praised her defiance. Davis, a Republican, lost her bid for reelection in 2018 . She was ordered to pay thousands in attorney fees incurred by a couple unable to get a license from her office. She has appealed in July 2024 in a challenge that seeks to overturn Obergefell. As he reflects of the decision's 10th anniversary, Obergefell has worried aloud about the state of LGBTQ+ rights in the country and the possibility that a case could reach the Supreme Court that might overturn the decision bearing his name. Eight states have introduced resolutions this year urging a reversal and the Southern Baptist Convention voted overwhelmingly at its meeting in Dallas earlier this month in favor of banning gay marriage and seeing the Obergefell decision overturned. Meanwhile, more than a dozen states have moved to strengthen legal protections for same-sex married couples in case Obergefell is ever overturned. In 2025, about 7 in 10 Americans — 68% — said marriages between same-sex couples should be recognized by the law as valid, up from 60% in May 2015. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Forbes
an hour ago
- Forbes
EV U.S. Sales Lag Will Reprieve ICE, Boost Hybrids
ICE versus EV getty Every other new car bought by Americans in 2030 was supposed to be electric, but as the Trump Administration clears away EV incentives and targets, the total is likely to be less than half that and offer a lifeline to gas powered vehicles and hybrids That represents an unexpected new lease of life for the likes of GM , Ford, and Stellantis brands like Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram and their combustion technology. They were highly dependent on internal combustion engines and were either slow or reluctant to embrace EVs. A combination of tax credit rollbacks, emissions standards delays and the removal of the Biden Administration and its call for a 50% share for EVs in the new car market in 2030 is a boost for ICE. Manufacturers will also be busily raising production of hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and extended range electric vehicles*. Consultants Roland Berger put it this way in a recent report. 'Delayed adoption of BEVs (EVs) will have cascading effects on the entire automotive value chain, prolonging profitability challenges for electrification-focused players and extending the window of opportunity for ICE-focused legacy players,' the report said. Analysts have been scrambling to slash their forecasts for U.S. EV sales in 2030. Investment bank UBS says EVs will only reach 24% of the new car market or 2.7 million vehicles. Four months ago UBS was predicting 32%. U.S. EV market share is currently around 10%. BloombergNEF now predicts 27%, down from almost 48%. Investment researcher Jefferies is even lower at about 20% along with Roland Berger. Roland Berger was projecting around 40% under Biden's watch. 'Actions taken by the Trump administration to loosen light vehicle emissions standards have effectively halved our forecast for U.S. electric vehicle adoption by 2030 – We now only expect about 20% BEV sales by 2030,' said Brandon Boyle, Senior Partner and Americas Automotive lead at Roland Berger. This compares starkly with Europe's ambitions. The European Union has decreed EV sales shall reach about 80% of new vehicle sales by 2030 on the way to 100% by 2035. Given current market share is barely 20% in Europe, some major humble-pie eating is on the cards. The Mazda MX-30 R-EV is an extended range electric vehicle equiped with a small rotary gasoline ... More engine (Photo by Sjoerd van) Getty Images / Sjoerd van der Wal 'The U.S. market has different dynamics (than Europe): more rural driving, less dense urban cores, and a political environment that could shift depending on the 2028 (Presidential) election,' said Curt Hopkins, CEO of MCQ Markets . MCQ Market says it is a FinTech firm making high-value assets accessible and investable. 'I wouldn't call it a comeback for ICE, but it's not going away overnight either. Hybrids and plug-in hybrids are still very much part of the transition-especially for consumers who aren't quite ready for a full battery-electric experience. Expect those to play a meaningful but gradually shrinking role through the decade,' Hopkins said. Bernstein Research analyst Daniel Roeska said at some point EV demand will accelerate again. Maybe after the 2028 election or after 2030. 'It (the expectation) won't be 50% for a long while,' Roeska said in an interview. '(General Motors, Ford and Stellantis) agreed that U.S. electrification will take a lot longer. Even if the target picture of high EV share in the U.S. has not changed, (manufacturers) are waking up to the fact that they must improve EV profitability without significant volume growth and maintain investments into legacy products for longer,' Roeska said in a recent report. Hard to bet against Tesla Tesla is the current EV market leader and despite a huge increase in competition and lower expectations for the overall market, is expected to retain its ascendancy, said MCQ's Hopkins. 'It's hard to bet against Tesla. They're vertically integrated, have a dominant brand, and continue to lead on software and over-the-air updates. As long as they maintain that pace of innovation, they'll likely still be the U.S. leader in 2030,' said Hopkins. According to Kelley Blue Book , the Tesla Model Y led the U.S. EV market in 2024 with sales of 373,000 and a market share of 28.6%, the Tesla Model 3 was next with 190,000 (14.6%). Then came the Ford Mustang Mach-E with 52,000 or 4.0%. 'That said, keep an eye on some dark horses. Chinese automakers like BYD and NIO are getting serious about international expansion, and if trade policy allows, they could become a factor in the U.S. by the end of the decade.' The All-Electric Ford Mustang Mach-E (Photo by) Getty Images 'Among the legacy automakers, Ford, GM, and Volkswagen have all shown real progress. Their ability to scale EV production and leverage existing dealer networks could help them close the gap, especially as more affordable models hit the market,' according to Hopkins. Twice the power, half the weight, half the cost He doesn't expect any game-changing battery technology before 2030, just incremental improvements in battery design. The long- promised solid-state battery revolution – twice the power, half the weight, half the cost - isn't close as researchers stumble over mass production techniques. And the trouble is that as consumers hear about this huge, imminent improvement, they are likely to be wary of buying an EV, and risk having its residual value torpedoed by game-changing technology. That could put the skids on EV demand as 2030 approaches. More bad news for EV makers came this week, courtesy of a survey of 15,000 drivers around the world by oil-giant Shell. The survey showed drivers in America are becoming more reluctant to switch to EVs from ICE vehicles. Those considering switching fell three percentage points to 31% compared with a year ago. In Europe, the reluctance was more ominous given the massive EV targets set for 2030. According to the survey, 41% said they would consider switching to an EV, down from 48% last year. Shell operates 75,000 charging points around the world including the U.S., Europe and China. *(Hybrids use computer power to combine for maximum efficiency with gasoline engines, and have relatively small batteries. They provide maybe 1 mile of electric-only driving. PHEVs have bigger batteries which can be charged independently and can provide up to 75 miles of electric-only transport. EREVs, like the Mazda MX30 R-EV, use small combustion engines to charge the battery. The MX30 R-EV is always powered by electricity.)
