Democrats Want Answers for Canceled Detroit EV Plant

November 20, 2025

Australian mining company Fortescue has cancelled construction of a $210 million electric vehicle battery manufacturing facility in Detroit's Milwaukee Junction neighborhood, eliminating 600 promised jobs that would have paid over $45,000 annually. The company attributed the cancellation to uncertainty created by recent changes to federal clean energy tax credits included in a Republican-led budget bill. Democratic lawmakers, including State Senator Stephanie Chang, are demanding accountability and criticizing the cancellation as a major setback for local employment, environmental improvements, and Detroit's clean energy manufacturing ambitions.

Who is affected

600 potential workers who would have filled the manufacturing jobs
Detroit residents, particularly children and vulnerable populations affected by air quality
Michigan and Detroit taxpayers who offered $23.7 million in incentives
Fortescue (Australian mining company)
The Milwaukee Junction neighborhood community
Democratic lawmakers including State Sen. Stephanie Chang
Michigan Electric Vehicle Alliance (MEVA) and Executive Director Jamie Racklyeft

What action is being taken

Democratic lawmakers and progressive leaders are calling for accountability and demanding answers regarding the cancellation
Local leaders held a gathering on Wednesday, November 19, to demand accountability for the project's cancellation

Why it matters

This cancellation represents a significant setback for Detroit's efforts to establish itself as a clean energy manufacturing hub and reclaim its position as a vehicle innovation leader. The loss impacts multiple areas: economic development through 600 well-paying jobs, environmental progress through cleaner air quality for vulnerable populations including children, and the city's industrial revitalization efforts in the Milwaukee Junction neighborhood. The cancellation also demonstrates how federal policy changes to clean energy tax credits can create uncertainty that derails major manufacturing investments and undermines local economic and environmental goals.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: Michigan Chronicle