Legal challenge to Michigan Ford battery plant revived

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(The Center Square) – The Michigan Supreme Court granted a legal win to opponents of Michigan’s newest Ford Motor Co. plant, BlueOval Battery Park Michigan.

A coalition of local residents, which has labeled itself “The Committee for Marshall not the Megasite,” filed the lawsuit against the plant in 2023 to stop the plant’s construction.

In June, the case was thrown out by the Michigan Court of Appeals. The Michigan Supreme Court vacated that dismissal and ordered that same court to rehear the case. That means the legal challenge will go on, even as construction of the multi-billion dollar plant continues.

The 1.8 million-square-foot facility is in Marshall and is expected to open in 2026.

BlueOval is a subsidiary of the Ford Motor Co. The plant is expected to produce lithium iron-phosphate batteries for all-electric vehicles, which are expected to power Ford’s future electric vehicles.

The potential tax credit cuts have not been the only hurdle for the plant.

While originally set to create upwards of 2,500 jobs once operational and bring a $3.5 billion dollar investment from Ford, the project has since been scaled back.

Despite these setbacks, local leaders and Ford executives remain committed to the project, which they say will create 1,700 permanent new jobs for the community.

Throughout the project, taxpayer monies, both from the state and local Marshall entities, has played a critical role in funding.

Most recently, the Marshall Area Economic Development Alliance “transferred” 500 acres of land to BlueOval Battery Michigan LLC for the building of the plant, as previously reported by The Center Square. The land transfer now makes it the largest industrial property owner in Marshall.

The project is supported by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and has received significant financial support from the state through hundreds of millions of dollars in grants and tax exemptions.

In return for the taxpayer investments, Ford has committed to local investments and increased tax revenue.