Marshall Township board approves additional land transfers for Ford battery plant

MARSHALL TWP. — Ford Motor Company's plans to build an electric vehicle battery plant in Marshall took another step forward Monday with the approval of several land transfers aimed at supporting the development.

Despite continued opposition from several township residents, the Marshall Township Board of Trustees voted 4-1 Monday to approve 21 conditional land transfer agreements to the city of Marshall that will allow township properties to gain access to city water and sewer — a key step in the development of the 2,000-acre Marshall Megasite near interstates 94 and 69 in Marshall Township.

The Megasite runs approximately 3.3 miles west to east and 1.5 miles north to south, extending from 12 Mile Road to the east to slightly past 15 Mile Road, and from Michigan Avenue to the north down to the Kalamazoo River.

In February, Ford announced plans to build an electric-vehicle battery plant, dubbed BlueOval Battery Park Michigan, on 950 acres of the Megasite — a $3.5 billion investment that's expected to create 2,500 jobs when production of lithium iron phosphate batteries begins at the plant in 2026. Monday's vote marked the third set of land transfers approved by the board.

But even as project details come more into focus, several township residents stepped to the podium Monday night to urge the board to reject the proposed land transfers, citing concerns over the potential for pollution at the site, the loss of several historic farmsteads and the loss of quality agricultural land as a result of the project.

The involvement of Chinese battery maker Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd., which will provide LFP battery cell technology to Ford, is also of concern to some residents.

"I feel there’s a large outcry and there’s a lot of things we don’t know," Township Supervisor Dave Bosserd, the lone 'no' vote at Monday's meeting, said. "I feel like it’s been forced on us, this whole development."

Bosserd said the last few months have been "miserable" as he's watched the community where he's lived his entire life grow increasingly divided. He joined a number of township residents Monday in calling for the necessity of a town hall meeting, acknowledging there are many questions that remain unanswered.

"My family’s been in the area for about 100 years and now we’re sandwiched between the Megasite and a large solar installation," he said. "This farm in my family, it’s our legacy, and I’m not sure it’s going to be able to survive all of this. … There’s going to be a lot of casualties."

While those opposed to the development fear what it could mean for the community, James Durian, CEO of the Marshall Area Economic Development Alliance, says the investment and jobs are needed.

Marshall has lost more than 2,000 jobs over the past two decades. The area's population, meanwhile, has been relatively idle, dropping slightly from 7,459 residents in 2000 to 6,822 in 2020, according to the U.S. Census.

"The Ford battery park will help us turn this trend around," Durian said Monday. "The Ford facility will create an estimated 2,500 new high-paying manufacturing jobs. It will replace the jobs Marshall has lost over the years."

Additional community benefits of the development, Durian said, include "new customers for existing businesses; new tax revenues for police, fire and schools; billions of dollars in new capital investments for roads and infrastructure; an increase in property values; new small businesses and jobs through suppliers and ancillary businesses; and millions of dollars in new personal income that will support local small businesses like restaurants, grocery stores, hardware stores and retail."

The Michigan Strategic Fund has approved a $120.3 million Strategic Site Readiness Program performance-based grant for MAEDA that will support "land acquisition, site preparation, water and wastewater upgrades, professional fees, administration, and necessary public infrastructure improvements" required for the electric-vehicle battery plant.

Additionally, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed into law March 8 a supplemental spending bill that appropriates nearly $630 million in incentives to support Ford's battery plant. The package includes a $330 million appropriation for road and infrastructure improvements to prepare the site and a $299.7 million appropriation for land acquisition, demolition, tree clearing and other activities to achieve site readiness.

Those funds are on top of the $36 million loan previously distributed to the MAEDA to get the site ready. State economic development officials also have also approved a $210 million grant for Ford along with a 15-year tax abatement for the company valued at $772 million.

"This project and these investments have been pursued in partnership with local economic development leaders and officials to make sure that we collectively identify the project that will support generations of young talent to be able to grow their futures here in Michigan," Josh Hundt, executive vice president and chief projects officer with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, said Monday.

Recognizing concerns over potential pollution at the Megasite, Hundt reiterated that Ford — and any company looking to invest in Michigan — will be "subject to all environmental, regulatory and permitting processes and considerations that are based on local, state and federal requirements."

"We will continue to work with Ford and work with (MAEDA) and the local community in a transparent process and in a way that ensures that we are seeing the community succeed," Hundt said.

Township resident Victoria McGuffin, a chemistry professor at Michigan State University, worries about the future of the Kalamazoo River if this development ultimately comes to fruition.

"It is an environmental risk to situate a manufacturing plant directly adjacent to the river. It’s also environmentally irresponsible," McGuffin said Monday.

McGuffin is not against building a battery plant, but "I object to you building it here, on this river," she said. "I would gladly support it on any other property that’s appropriate within Marshall Township or Calhoun County, but not this place."

Township resident Mick Woods also has concerns about pollution.

"I think we’re reasonable, we believe you guys to be reasonable, but we haven’t had anybody answer any of our questions," Woods told the board Monday. "I think it’s time to call a town hall. ... Have a town hall so we as a community can get together, sit down and discuss things and get answers to the questions we’ve been asking since the middle of January. It’s long past due."

Stephanie Fries, local government relations manager at Ford, said the automaker is committed to being a good neighbor and looks forward to being part of the Marshall community.

"I cannot stress this enough, that we do take our responsibility to be a good neighbor seriously and I do know that actions speak louder than words," Fries said. The automaker plans to hold a community information in May to "respond to the top questions that we've received to date" she said.

Township Trustee Dan Walsh and Treasurer Nicole Roberts agreed with Bosserd and others that a town hall is needed.

"I think open discussion is good," Walsh said. "We are probably in the dark a lot more than most of you think and it’s not because of any NDAs that were signed, OK? So I would agree that a meeting would be beneficial to everybody."

Contact reporter Greyson Steele at gsteele@battlecreekenquirer.com

This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Marshall Township board approves additional land transfers for Ford battery plant