Many questions have been asked by residents about the area’s incoming battery plant. Questions like “Is it happening? When would they break ground?”

According to Gotion-North America Vice President Chuck Thelen, the project has seen some delay but is ready to move forward this year.

“We expect about a six-month delay for permit applications to be finalized since they go through the (federal level), the EPA, and the Army Corps of Engineers,” Thelen said. “We need to make sure all the “i’s” are dotted and t’s” are crossed before that’s submitted. Once that’s done, we hope to be breaking ground in the fall.”

Regarding the current status of the plant, Thelen says they are focused on personnel and tree-cutting at the location.

“Right now, we are building our staff,” Thelen said. “We have some verbal acceptances to some job offers we have made. We’ll be hiring another four or five more in the January and February timeframe. Those people will be helping us get moving forward.”

“We had intended for the trees starting to get logged by October or November. The amount of regulation that goes behind that is much more in-depth than what I anticipated. We (now) have authorization from EGLE (Environmental, Great Lakes, and Energy), so as soon as I can get that person under contract, we’ll start cutting trees only in the location of where the trees are.”

Over a few months ago, the push for watershed protection became a point of emphasis among resistors. This included consideration of a few endangered species by Mecosta Environmental and Security Alliance, like the Bald Eagle, Blue Karner Butterfly, and the Rusty Patched Bumblebee.

Further into his mentioning of construction plans, Thelen reiterated that building plans will continue to consider the wetland habitats.

“What we're not going to do is a clear cut. We're not going to destroy the entire environment. We’re going to leave a green strip around the entire plant and in areas where we have designated as high-quality wetlands. We're leaving those alone and those are all going to remain trees. We're working through architectural engineering firms to get all the designs done, and we intend to incorporate that along with all our wetland, water, (and) air numbers that we must submit to the state for permit submission hopefully by March.”

According to Thelen, a groundbreaking ceremony will be held in the fall. This event plans to bring in top executives in the state and even some across the world. The vice president also mentioned he believes this groundbreaking would be a “spark” to economic growth in the area.