Kane County Reporter

Illinois Eighth Congressional District candidate Mark Rice expressed opposition to the Chinese electric vehicle battery maker Gotion, citing concerns about environmental issues, taxpayer subsidies, and espionage. He made the statement in a June 22 Facebook post.

"Everyday Americans are against Gotion due to concerns of environmental issues, taxpayer subsidies and espionage," said Rice, according to Facebook. "I stand with them in saying "No Gotion."

In his post, Rice shared a link to an article from Wirepoints with the headline "Gotion sparks new clash in Manteno, and where is Rep. Krishnamoorthi?" The article begins with Mike Barry, a resident of Manteno, Illinois, who has been vocal against Gotion's plans to build a lithium battery factory for electric vehicles in the town.

Screenshot of Mark Rice for Congress' June 22 Facebook post | Mark Rice for Congress Facebook page

The article reports that "the project was already extremely controversial. Earlier polling showed opposition among area residents exceeding support by over two to one, with 43% being strongly opposed. Opposition is based on Gotion’s links to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), environmental issues, massive taxpayer subsidies and the likelihood of Chinese spying. The subsidies include $536 million from the State of Illinois and eligibility for another $8.5 billion of federal tax credits, all for a plant that will cost Gotion just $2 billion and purportedly will create only 2,600 jobs."

According to The Center Square, Manteno residents filed a lawsuit against the company and the village of Manteno in February and were amending their complaint. Attorney Robby Dube said the change comes because the company altered the LLC that owned the property before the lawsuit was filed.

The company announced its plan to bring the $2 billion project to Kankakee County and create 2,600 jobs in September.

The 8th Congressional District covers northern Cook County, northern DuPage County, and northeast Kane County. It is currently represented by U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.), who was elected to Congress in 2016 and is now serving his fourth term.

Rice is currently the CEO of Energy CX and has lived in Illinois for 35 years. His leadership at Energy CX has garnered national acclaim for delivering comprehensive energy solutions. Leading a team of 70 professionals, Rice’s experience in the energy sector positions him as a prominent executive with a keen understanding of the economic landscape. His website highlights that his congressional bid aligns with a commitment to address concerns within the 8th Congressional District and challenge what he perceives as a corrupt administration.