BlueOval Battery Park Michigan

FACT: Michigan is home to 300 different agricultural products, and Michiganders understand and value the importance of agriculture to our economy, history and culture. We have seen first hand that communities can increase economic opportunities while preserving and respecting our deep agricultural roots. Michigan is home to 10 million acres of farmland and more than 3 million of those acres are under permanent farmland preservation agreements. In 2021, the state had a record high $2.5 billion in food and agriculture exports sold abroad. 

Blue Oval Battery Park Michigan will be built on 950 acres of land, which is just a fraction of the available agricultural land in Michigan. 

FACT:

Any suggestion that the battery production plant would involve the transfer of national security sensitive technology is false. There will be no transfer of technology from Ford to CATL. The battery production plant will be a Ford wholly owned subsidiary and is controlled by Ford. CATL, which is a leader in LFP battery technology and an existing supplier to Ford and other global automakers, will license LFP-related technology and provide services to the plant on a contractual basis to assist in Ford's production of LFP batteries. The project will expand U.S. domestic capacity to produce electric vehicle batteries, diversify supply chains, and onshore important aspects of the battery value chain to North America. 

The future is going to be driven by EV technology and batteries and Michigan is poised to lead in this critical space. We are proud to have the Marshall area play an important role in this developing technology and we’re proud to help bring our supply chain back home and manufacture the vehicles of the future right here in Michigan. We're very confident that the BlueOval Battery Park Michigan will allow us to create jobs, be a leader in EV technology, reduce our reliance on foreign manufacturing and protect our national security.  

FACT:

Ford has aggressive sustainability goals that includes its pledge to becoming carbon neutral globally by 2050. On the BlueOval Battery Park Michigan project, the company has committed to protecting 245 acres at the southern edge of the site along the Kalamazoo River for a conservation easement. It is intended to be "preserved for future generations to come," and the Ford Fund, the company’s philanthropic arm, will contribute resources to help the community explore how to best enjoy this beautiful land.

An environmentally conscious planning approach is at the forefront of the BlueOval Battery Park Michigan. The Ford battery plant will be regulated by federal and state regulators, including the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. Every phase of development will be subject to the state’s environmental regulatory and permitting processes and considerations. 

FACT: There is growing local support for investment in and development of this area because it will create jobs, raise property values and pump millions of dollars into local small businesses. Public input has been and will continue to be a key part of the process from community forums, public meetings and town halls. 

FACT: All property acquisitions made for this project have been done voluntarily through negotiations with local landowners. Marshall Area Economic Development Alliance (MAEDA) does not have the power to use eminent domain to acquire property.

FACT: The development will be a magnet for billions of dollars of new capital investment into our region, funding road improvements and infrastructure projects, which will help improve the overall quality of life in the area. A payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT)/municipal services agreement will be in place to absorb any potential utility cost increases to taxpayers and our research shows the project will not increase taxes for residents in Marshall Township and the City of Marshall.

FACT: We strongly believe it is possible to leverage new economic opportunities while preserving our way of life in southwest Michigan with our distinctive character and our agricultural roots and history to make this project truly a “win-win.” This one-of-a-kind opportunity must be balanced with our shared desire to preserve our unique culture and way of life, rural character, and vibrant downtown with its charming shops, restaurants and sycamore tree-lined streets. Ford is committed to being a good neighbor and keeping the surrounding community informed of progress and any details that may affect their surroundings.