This is our most important message to date. We are writing today with an urgent action request that needs to be completed this week. If you care about the health of Lake Superior and about the wilderness quality of the North Country Trail and Porcupine Mountains State Park, now is the time to fight for it.
The Michigan Strategic Fund is currently considering a $50 million grant for the Copperwood project. This money would more than double Highland Copper's bank account, but more importantly, a State endorsement would provide a massive boost in momentum and be used as leverage for future funds from grants, investors, and loans. To quote Highland Copper's CEO Barry O'Shea: "I can tell you with certainty that an award of this nature will move the needle significantly in terms of how our debt providers and our equity investors look at our company. It's not only a large financial boost for the project, but it is a true endorsement."
Fortunately, a few of the MSF board members have expressed doubts regarding the necessity and wisdom of the grant, and the decision has been deferred to subcommittee. We don't know the timeframe in which a decision will be made, which is why it is crucial we act NOW.
We are asking you to write a message to the Michigan Strategic Fund board members who are deliberating over this grant as we speak. Their emails are provided below. We have already written to them a lengthy elaboration on all key arguments, so you only need to follow up with a few short paragraphs, or even a few sentences. Write about whatever points resonate personally with you, but remember, these are businesspeople interested in the soundness of an investment! You might consider including any of the following points:
- Are they aware of this petition with over 11,000 signatures opposing Copperwood's development? Contrary to what they have been told, social license for this project is far from universal.
- The board members are likely not familiar with this area— remind them that this is not "the middle of nowhere": the juncture of Porcupine Mountains Wilderness, the North Country Trail, and Lake Superior is one of the most spectacular outdoor recreation areas in the country.
- Highland Copper is a foreign company funded by foreign investors, and their own Feasibility Study ( P. 1-28; P. 19-13 ) states that the copper will be shipped to Canada, Europe, or even Asia for processing— does it make sense for Michigan to be using taxpayer dollars to subsidize a foreign enterprise?
- If this project is such a slam dunk, why haven't they been able to procure funding after over a decade of scrambling?
- And why did their CEO step down just a few months ago?
- Outdoor recreation contributes over $10 billion to Michigan's economy annually; mining, around $1 billion. An operating mine would disrupt this thriving outdoor recreation area with noise pollution, light pollution, subterranean blasting, and heavy industrial traffic.
- Copperwood would be the closest sulfide mine to Lake Superior in history. Copper sulfide mines always contaminate and tailings dams are far from invincible.
- Inform them that, despite what they may have been told, copper is NOT a critical mineral and therefore there is no urgent need to fund this project.
- For more arguments, visit our official Call to Action
Now, without further ado, the details of the action:
- Firstly, please submit a short message via this online form.
- Secondly, send that same message, or a longer version, to the e-mail addresses below— you may copy and paste the entire list directly into the CC: or BCC: field of a new email. These addresses comprise ALL the Michigan Strategic Fund board members, plus a few more of special relevance:
msfcomments@michigan.org
LockwoodA@michigan.gov
messerq@michigan.org
britanyaffolter-caine@urcmich.org
LEO-DirectorOffice@Michigan.gov
LEO-Comms@michigan.gov
wes@muskegoncc.com
susan.corbin@michigan.gov
susanrcorbin@gmail.com
MIStateTreasurer@michigan.gov
eubanksr@michigan.gov
rachael.eubanks@gmail.com
dimitriushutcherson@firstindependence.com
dimitrius.hutcherson@gmail.com
dan@trilliumventuresmsv.com
tmeyering@gmail.com
info@thechemicogroup.com
crothstein@beringea.com
crothstein@gmail.com
sue@jetcofederal.com
randy.thelen@rightplace.org
cindy.warner@360ofme.com
cindylwarner1@gmail.com
wieferichb@michigan.gov
schwabv@michigan.org
wilforde@michigan.gov
erikwilford@yahoo.com
contractsandgrants@michigan.org
You can also call the Chair of the MSF, Quentin L. Messer: 517-241-1400
Thank you for your help everyone! Remember, ProtectThePorkies is not an organization, but a movement, and you are the face of it!