The Michigan Senate Appropriations Committee approved all pending funding requests on their desks with the notable exception of the highly controversial $50 million SOAR grant to the proposed Copperwood Mine. The Committee had a final meeting scheduled for Thursday morning, but it was cancelled. Sources close to the Protect The Porkies campaign have confirmed that the Copperwood grant has been officially defeated.
“The people of Michigan have spoken: this project is not welcome here,” said Tom Grotewohl of the Protect the Porkies campaign. “Despite the company’s claims to investors, Copperwood does not have social license. The health of our majestic lands and pristine waters are infinitely more valuable than copper to be shipped out of country and boom-and-bust jobs to renew the vicious cycle of short-term gain followed by long-term decline. Funders would be wise to observe the direction the wind is blowing and invest their capital elsewhere.”
“A healthy Lake Superior is quintessential to our heritage in the Upper Peninsula,” said Jane Fitkin, Director of Citizens for a Safe & Clean Lake Superior. “We’re thankful to the Senators for listening to the people, recognizing the harm posed by the Copperwood Mine, and preventing our tax dollars from being misused on this irresponsible project. This movement is strong and resilient, as is Lake Superior, and we are prepared to continue to joyfully defend our Lake, land, and communities from the Copperwood Mine.”
This is the second time the grant has been blocked by the Senate this year. Although it is possible that attempts may be made to see the funding reintroduced in 2025, the Protect the Porkies campaign has exploded in momentum and is confident in a repeat outcome. The petition calling for the halting of Copperwood’s development has garnered over 350,000 signatures, and a letter opposing the subsidy has been signed by over 70 organizations. In recent weeks, over 10,000 people sent a fast action form to legislators demanding a rejection of the grant, and over 5,000 clicked a link to write and call their lawmakers directly.
“I am pleased with the decision of our Senators, who saw the wisdom in decoupling the package and rejecting the $50 million grant to Copperwood,” said Carly Rusch, resident of Ironwood in Gogebic County and one of the more than 100 residents to sign a letter for locals opposing the subsidy. “I’m cautiously optimistic that the ultimate rejection of the grant by the Michigan Senate, for the second time, will send the message to Highland Copper that residents of the U.P. won’t sit idle while the state’s precious resources are under threat.”
“I’m a life-long capitalist, but sometimes nature and God’s creation must come first,” said Robert Ivancevich, resident of Ontonagon County and another of the letter’s signatories.
“I literally sighed in relief over the grant not getting passed,” said Bridget Young, resident of Gogebic County. “Not only are we protecting Lake Superior and the surrounding paradise for ourselves, we’re protecting it for the future. No more mines in the UP, please — especially ones where foreign countries profit over us.”
“It’s gratifying that the Senate Appropriations Committee appeared to give more consideration to the public’s Risk vs Benefit concerns than to Copperwood’s Risk vs Profit position,” said Catherine Andrews, Vice President of Friends of the Land of Keweenaw.
“With nothing less than the future of Lake Superior at stake, the Senate Appropriations Committee clearly heard the public’s strong opposition to taxpayer funding of the Copperwood project, and their love for the Porcupine Mountains,” said Kathleen Heideman of the Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition. “We applaud the decision to remove the Copperwood Mine funding from consideration.”
“The people of Michigan spoke loud and clear that using state funds to assist in the development of a mine that could harm the Great Lake Superior, a beloved state park and community water supplies is not how state funds should be used,” said Jill Ryan, executive director of Freshwater Future. “We applaud the Senate Appropriations Committee for hearing this message and all who spoke out for our waters and lands.”
“Locating a mine waste dump so close to Lake Superior defies common sense,” said Dr. Al Gedicks, celebrated water protector and Executive Director of the Wisconsin Resources Protection Council. “The risk of a tailings dam failure is greatly increased due to extreme weather events. Concerned citizens and Lake Superior tribes have opposed the Copperwood mine project. The Michigan legislature made the right decision and rejected state funding for the Copperwood mine project.”
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