LANSING, MI (WTVB) – The BlueOval Battery Plant in Marshall continues to take shape as the Michigan Court of Appeals has affirmed the dismissal of a lawsuit challenging Ford’s facility where the manufacturing of electric vehicle batteries is scheduled to start in 2026.
After a hearing was conducted last Thursday, the judges backed Calhoun County Judge William Marietti ruling that the opposition group “Committee for Marshall – Not the Megasite” did not take correct legal steps when they challenged the rezoning.
The citizens group filed suit last year after their petition to force a community vote on the rezoning of 700 acres of land between 13 and 15 Mile Roads for the electric vehicle battery factory was ruled insufficient.
They filed an appeal after the lawsuit was thrown out by Marietti.
Some are expecting the legal battles to go all the way to the Michigan Supreme Court.
Backers say the battery factory is expected to create 1,700 jobs. The Committee to Save Marshall, Not the Megasite sued the city, arguing Marshall did not consider the community’s concerns when it came to the megasite. The lawsuit stated the group was against bulldozing the former farm land.
Marshall Area Economic Development Alliance Chief Executive Officer Jim Durian said in a statement, “Our elected officials and local leaders in Marshall are always thinking about what’s best for our community and that’s why they took action and followed the letter of the law to create a campus that will create thousands of jobs. This project is already having an impact on our community with dozens of construction workers visiting our area businesses, eating at our restaurants and staying at our hotels.”
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