Tea party groups from around the Piedmont are planning to protest President Barack Obama's health care overhaul and other policies Friday, though details of the presidential visit remained sketchy Wednesday.
Tea party organizers said they expect protesters from as far as Asheville to descend on southwest Charlotte, near the Celgard plant the president plans to tour.
Celgard has been among the most prominent examples of the green-energy jobs that Charlotte's economic development leaders hope to expand. The company makes porous membranes for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries used in notebook computers, digital cameras and other devices.
Obama is scheduled to make a midday visit to the plant, which he's expected to tour before he speaks about the economy.
Details of Obama's appearance, including the format, were unavailable Wednesday. Company officials referred reporters to the White House. So did city officials.
A spokesman for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said motorists could expect traffic delays and even stoppages in south and west Charlotte during business hours.
How much the trip will cost the city is unclear. The police department alone plans to spend up to $70,000 to staff it.
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