Kankakee Times

Concerned Citizens of Manteno, a non-profit group, has joined forces with a local resident to file a lawsuit in Kankakee County Circuit Court against Gotion and the Village of Manteno. Amanda Piker, the founder of the group, announced the legal action in a press release, stating their primary goals are to prevent Gotion from releasing highly toxic chemicals into the community, safeguard national security from the Chinese Communist Party-linked plant and compel Manteno to reverse the allegedly illegal rezoning of the Gotion property from I-1 to I-2.

The community has been at the forefront of this battle against the plant, organizing rallies, participating in public hearings, and demanding accountability from representatives who have previously been ignored. The filing of the lawsuit was announced last week. Robby Dube, Mark Blando, and Rachel Kurth of Eckland & Blando LLP are representing the group in this lawsuit.

"Concerned Citizens of Manteno, the non-profit group representing Manteno residents battling to protect their community and stop the Gotion Plant, together with a local Manteno resident, took legal action in Kankakee County Circuit Court against Gotion and the Village of Manteno today," Piker said in a press release as reported by Wirepoints.

Piker emphasized that they will not remain silent or overlooked. She stated that the rezoning of the Gotion Property was unconstitutional and violated various regulations including those concerning potentially hazardous chemicals.

"The lawsuit asks the Court for an order to declare the rezoning illegal, stop Gotion from ever operating its dangerous plant, and more," according to information provided in their press release.

In a contentious vote that sparked outrage among community members, The Manteno Planning Commission unanimously approved a zoning change for the proposed Gotion lithium-ion car battery plant from light industrial to heavy industrial. Concerns about health safety and potential environmental impacts have fueled opposition. Despite three hours of testimony against Gotion, the Planning Commission voted in favor of allowing the plant to move forward. This controversy has galvanized the community towards electoral activism, with plans to replace supportive officials in the upcoming April 2025 elections, according to a Kankakee Times report in November.

During the Manteno Planning Commission meeting, Attorney Dube, who initiated the legal action, raised serious concerns about the proposed lithium-ion battery plant. Representing Manteno residents opposing the plant, Dube emphasized the dangers associated with using highly toxic materials in battery production. He specifically highlighted ordinances prohibiting such industrial uses and discussed the toxicity of synthetic graphite which poses risks to natural bodies of water and soil as well as potential hazards of N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP), known to cause birth defects, cancer and toxicity to the immune system.

"That very specifically says that you cannot – expressly prohibited use any use such as emitting an external odor, smoke, dust, noise or glare or that involves the use of any radioactive or highly toxic materials as determined by the code enforcement officers," Dube said.

Dube also questioned Gotion’s claimed closed-loop system's effectiveness and expressed concerns about potential leaks impacting nearby watersheds and communities as reported by Kankakee Times.

In related news, U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood (R-Ill.) has introduced the No Official Giveaways Of Taxpayers’ Income to Oppressive Nations (NO GOTION) Act. This legislation aims at preventing companies associated with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from benefiting from green energy production tax credits established by the Biden Administration. The legislation extends its restrictions to companies linked with Russia, Iran and North Korea addressing concerns about Gotion Inc., a CCP-affiliated company planning battery factories in Illinois and Michigan.

"As a member of the House Select Committee on the CCP and the House Intelligence Committee, I have seen malign efforts that the CCP and other foreign adversaries like Iran and Russia are engaged in to undermine our domestic supply chains and national security," LaHood said in a press release.

LaHood argues that hardworking taxpayers should not bear the financial burden of federal subsidies benefiting companies tied to malign actors, particularly the CCP. He asserts that the "Inflation Reduction Act" is exploited by foreign adversaries to gain incentives and control crucial technologies, emphasizing the need for a pro-growth tax policy to support American businesses.