BIG RAPIDS, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Standing behind Michiganders who are fighting against the semiconductor and EV battery Megasites being pushed through by the state’s Democrat party and local economic development organizations, is EDRA (Economic Development Responsibility Alliance of Michigan) which describes itself as a a “grassroots alliance of residential stewards, united in our purpose to stop corrupt deals by taxpayer funded economic development corporations and the capture of regulatory agencies from destroying our communities, our wild spaces, and our water so that a few may profit.”

MORE NEWS: Ann Arbor Wants EV Truck That Ford Is Considering Cancelling

In its sights are China-linked Gotion (Green Charter Township, Mecosta County), China-linked CATL-Ford Blue Oval Megasite (Marshall), the Mundy Township/Swartz Creek Megasite, the Eagle Township Megasite, and the Shiawassee Megasite. The EDRA website keeps track of the Megasites, including documenting the scope of the projects and the impact the projects will have on local communities.

Recently, EDRA sent out a press release accusing Gotion of lying about past statements concerning environmental reviews. In their statement, EDRA said, “Comments made by Gotion VP Chuck Thelen in May about the approval of a local environmental organization and the materials used by the proposed EV battery Megasite have been proven on the record to be false.”

EDRA says that at the May 9th Green Charter Township board meeting, Thelen delivered a presentation to the board and the public, during which he stated that he had been in communication with the Muskegon River Watershed Assembly (MRWA), and that they (the MRWA) have absolutely no concerns with the materials being processed at this facility.”

MRWA’s Principal Watershed Scientist Marty Holtgren said during a July 17th Zoom meeting that Mr. Thelen’s comments about MRWA were “simply not true. I have not seen any information…I am waiting for those data, and we will do a full review…that is our role, to make sure that the watershed is protected. We all live here, and when that information is here, I’ll be scouring it.”

When Michigan News Source reached out to Thelen, he said that he didn’t know who Holtgren was and that he works with MRWA Executive Director Scott Faulkner. However, Faulkner, who was at the Zoom meeting with EDRA backed up Holtgren’s points about the lack of communication with Thelen.

Thelen also told Michigan News Source that EDRA’s claim is false and “we have been collaborating with MRWA for more than three months. We have supplied the material safety data sheets and await their time to open up for another discussion between our experts and their lead scientists to provide details in our materials and process for their consideration.” He added, “The MRWA also attended our first responder workshop we had in Big Rapids in late spring where material handling techniques were discussed.”

MORE NEWS: Illegal Alien With Michigan Commercial Drivers License Picked Up By ICE

At the July 17th Zoom meeting Faulkner said that once EGLE receives the permit application and gets data from Gotion, MRWA will be reviewing all of the documentation and checking on any potential harm to the watershed. He says they are not currently in a position to demand something of someone who doesn’t even own the property.

According to Faulkner, they scrutinize all potential projects from four angles: environmental protection and stewardship (in keeping with their mission); the economic impact on local stakeholders; social concerns (the impact on local people and their way of life); and sustainability (how the proposed project will impact future generations.)

Faulkner told the Big Rapids Pioneer. “No matter the size or scope of the project, MRWA believes a balanced view is the best method to weigh a broad range of stakeholder concerns and arrive at the best outcome. We believe this is also true of the proposed battery plant in Green Charter Township in Mecosta County. In the case of the proposed Gotion plant, MRWA sees a broad range of dynamics within each of these criteria. Clearly, the projected economic impact of a proposed project of this scale seems compelling for almost any rural Michigan county, but social concerns and opinions are deeply polarized among local stakeholders, some of whom feel their way of life will be irreparably comprised, threatened or even destroyed. These concerns are far-reaching and very difficult to resolve.”