By: Mark Glennon*
Think what you want about the rest of the “Big Beautiful Bill” now heading for President Trump’s signature, but part of it is a triumph for sure: Federal taxpayers won’t pay the $6.5 billion subsidy to Gotion for its battery plant in Manteno, Illinois.
Gotion is the Chinese company with extensive ties to the Chinese Communist Party that was eligible for $6.5 billion of federal tax credits under the reckless and falsely labeled Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. But the “No Gotion” policy is included in the bill to be signed by Trump. The policy prohibits companies affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party, and the subsidiaries of those companies, from qualifying for green energy production tax credits created during the Biden Administration.
Gotion, however, is a darling of Gov. JB Pritzker, so it’s also receiving subsidies from Illinois taxpayers totaling $536 million. We have no indication yet on whether cancellation of the federal tax credits will affect Gotion’s Illinois plans for its Manteno plant, which is nearly complete – Gotion is notoriously nontransparent in its plans and operations.
Wirepoints has followed the Gotion project closely from the start, which we see as a travesty. Our stories are collected here.
Salute to Illinois reps in Congress Darin Lahood, Mike Bost and Mary Miller for their efforts to kill the Gotion subsidies.
Special salute to Rep. John Moolenaar (R-Michigan) who has led that effort. His ‘No Gotion” provisions assure that taxpayer money does not “go to companies like Gotion, which is undisputedly affiliated with the CCP,” Moolenaar said in his press release. “Gotion has spent the last three years misleading the public about its well-documented ties to the CCP, including its reliance on forced labor in China in its supply chain.”
*Mark Glennon is founder of Wirepoints.
Audio and summary 
If this bill passes, say goodbye to local control over all Illinois parks and expect to see open drug and alcohol use, needles, no sanitation and fire hazards, but no ordinary park users.
Expect no retraction or apology. This what they do.
There’s NOTHING environmental clean with making batteries, this would be a disaster for illinios or anywhere. Keep the acid pools in China
Looks like it may not get built now. So much for all the jobs it would create. They can always go to work the Public Sector doing nothing.
Which would you rather have, 2,600 new jobs or $7 billion?
Show me the money!!!
In Illinois take the jobs as there is a huge multiplier effect. Stem the outflow of taxpayers and their tax revenue that Illinois needs so badly. Electric cars are the future like it or not. May not be a straight line up, but in the next decade or so it will be the majority of new car sales.
And special thanks to Wirepoints who– long before any other media and almost anyone in Illinois had focused on this boondoggle– put the spotlight on this horrible waste and handout to the Chinese commies. I don’t see how Gotion proceeds without the fed subsidy. Three or four years ago when this project first showed up on the radar, all the lefties were goo-goo eyed for this greenie money burner. Just goes to show you that with a little perseverance sometimes the right thing gets done.
Red States tired of paying for Democrats grifting on the Green New Steal. Big win for America.
Big question, can Illinois taxpayers recoup any closing deal tax subsidies from Gotion, Rivian or all the other jb clean energy/ev bs deals if they all go under from BBB legislation? Or have any or only some taxpayer funds been committed to date? Or more complicated?
Good question and it will depend on the project. The foolhardy Lion Electric bus project died so fast it never hit any of the employment targets, so no taxpayer money has been disbursed. Some of the $536 million for Gotion has been spent, though I am not sure exactly how much, and I expect that will be difficult to get back.
what would be even more nutty is if JB continued to pump more taxpayer $ into these deals….but not surprising.
If it’s such a good idea let JB put his family’s trust money in the project instead. After all, its an investment and will give them dividends when it makes money.
An old saying ” put your money where your mouth is “
That would be Dunkin’ Donuts in his case.