MARSHALL, MI (WTVB) – Opponents of Ford Motor Company’s BlueOval Battery Park in Marshall have announced plans to appeal to the Michigan Supreme Court following last months Court of Appeals decision that upheld the project’s legal standing.
The Committee for Marshall intends to ask the high court to reconsider the lower court’s rejection of their arguments, which specifically aimed to halt construction on the electric vehicle battery facility.
This latest legal move follows a previous Supreme Court intervention that had remanded the case back to the Court of Appeals for reconsideration in light of historical zoning precedents; however, the appellate court again ruled in favor of the city, citing notable differences in the current case.
Marshall Mayor Scott Wolfersberger expressed relief last week at the recent appellate ruling, noting it marks the fourth time courts have sided with the city regarding the battery plant’s development.
Despite the ongoing legal challenges, construction on the 500 acre site has progressed to over 90% completion, with crews currently transitioning from structural work to the installation of specialized manufacturing equipment.
While the facility was initially projected to open sooner, Ford and local officials now confirm the plant is on track to begin production sometime this year.
The project has undergone strategic shifts, including a scaled-back scope and a pivot to produce batteries for both electric vehicles and residential energy storage systems.
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