The Michigan Supreme Court has revived a lawsuit challenging Ford Motor’s (F.N) BlueOval Battery Park Michigan project, a $3.5 billion facility under construction that is slated to begin producing lithium iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries for electric vehicles next year, the Detroit Free Press reported.
The case, filed by a group of residents under the Committee for Marshall – not the Megasite, argued that city officials acted to block them from fairly voting on measures that would enable Ford and other entities to proceed with the development. The state’s highest court vacated a lower appellate court ruling and directed it to review the case in light of a 2017 decision on land transfers related to economic development.
The ruling adds uncertainty to the future of the site, which has already faced political scrutiny over Ford’s decision to license battery technology from Chinese manufacturer CATL, as well as prior legal challenges that were dismissed twice by a judge. It remains unclear when the court of appeals will revisit the case or issue a ruling.
“I don’t know if it’s realistic Ford would dismantle their plant. I think there is room for discussion with the city and (the local economic development organization) on this on some of the other land that’s on the megasite there and how it would be used,” said Regis Klingler, a spokesman for the committee.
Despite the court’s decision, local officials said construction at the site continues. “Ford’s BlueOval Battery Park Michigan continues to move forward creating new jobs and bringing in tax revenues for the local community, as we review this decision with our legal team,” said Jim Durian, CEO of the Marshall Area Economic Development Alliance. “Ford is currently paying taxes on the property and there are 2,200 workers on-site every day, contributing to the local economy. Ford has already completed steel construction on the primary facility, which is expected to begin production next summer,” he said.
