As of about 4:00am Friday, October 3, 2025, the Michigan Legislature passed a budget which does not include $50 million in funding to benefit the Copperwood mine. This is a major win for all who have spoken up to resist this industrial attempt at resource extraction to the detriment of our environment and communities.
Let's be clear: the fight is not over. We must remain prepared for another attempt at pushing an iteration of this funding through. But in this moment, hug a tree and take a swim, for this is another battle won by the people. Then, be sure to call and thank the legislators for following through on this (suggested call script below)!
Copperwood is seeking taxpayer dollars in order to move forward with site preparation and infrastructure. We've compiled a list of action items you can take right now to put pressure on lawmakers and help prevent public funding for the Copperwood Mine:
October 3, 2025 Update: The $50M funding did not make it into the final Michigan budget!!! Please call House and Senate leadership to thank them for excluding the funding from the budget and urging them to not allow any renewed attempts at funding through. Specifically, we are encouraging thanks directed to:
Sen. Winnie Brinks (Senate Majority Leader)
517-373-1801
SenWBrinks@senate.michigan.gov
Sen. Sarah Anthony (Senate Appropriations Chair)
517-373-6960
SenSAnthony@senate.michigan.gov
Sen. Sam Singh (Senate Majority Floor Leader)
517-373-3447
SenSSingh@senate.michigan.gov
Sen. Sue Shink (Appropriations Member)
517-373-2426
SenSShink@senate.michigan.gov
Sen. Thomas Albert (Appropriations Member)
517-373-1734
SenTAlbert@senate.michigan.gov
Sen. Mallory McMorrow (Appropriations Member)
517-373-2523
SenMMcMorrow@senate.michigan.gov
Sen. Jeff Irwin (Appropriations Members)
517-373-2406
SenJIrwin@senate.michigan.gov
Rep. Matt Hall (Speaker of the House)
(517) 373-1784
MattHall@house.mi.gov
Rep. Ann Bollin (House Appropriations Chair)
(517) 373-7515
AnnBollin@house.mi.gov
Rep. Matt Maddock
(517) 373-1780
MattMaddock@house.mi.gov
Rep. Jason Morgan
517-373-0855
JasonMorgan@house.mi.gov
Rep. Donavan McKinney
517-373-0849
DonavanMcKinney@house.mi.gov
Sample script:
Hello, my name is _____________ and I live in ___________. I'm calling to thank ___________ for their opposition to public funding benefitting the Copperwood Mine, and to urge the [representative/senator] to reject any renewed attempts for public funding to benefit the Copperwood Mine. As [Sen./Rep. ________] knows, Copperwood is an incredibly risky and devastating project for the UP, and its public funding would constitute an incredibly inappropriate use of taxpayer money.
Not only would Copperwood be the closest sulfide mine to Lake Superior in history, posing numerous catastrophic environmental risks, but it is being pushed by an inexperienced Canadian company that has never operated a mine before. Funding for the mine has been rejected by the Michigan legislature three times due to pushback from thousands of constituents. Any public funding of Copperwood is effectively a corporate handout to accelerate a risky project for a foreign company to extract our mineral wealth and ship it out of the country with no guarantee of it returning. The mining company also won't commit to hiring majority local or even Michigan residents. This is a short-sighted project which will have devastating long-term consequences for our communities in the UP, as well as potentially catastrophic consequences to Lake Superior, which holds 10% of earth's surface fresh drinking water.
Again, thank you for your work on this issue so far, and please do not allow any public funding to benefit the Copperwood Mine. Thank you.
Speaking with elected officials and their office staffers through a phone call can be a very effective way at communicating issues in a way that legislators will remember. Phone calls hold more weight than writing letters and emails, or signing a petition—as legislators and their offices must listen directly to public comments, and are more likely to recognize an influx in attention towards an issue.
Contacting the officials responsible for voting on Copperwood funding will ensure your voice has the most impact. Below is a list of Michigan state legislators who sit on the two committees that are currently considering the Copperwood grants, and a list of federal representatives that Highland Copper will lobby for potential federal funding:
Top Targets - Michigan State Legislators
Top Targets - Federal Representatives
When calling elected officials, it's important to explain your concerns in a respectful, clear, and concise manner. You may have more knowledge of an issue than the representative, so educate them about why you are taking a stance and why they should too.
You may not be able to speak with the legislator directly, as a staff member may likely be tasked with answering phone calls. Don't fear that you will be grilled or questioned—it is the job of legislators and their offices to hear public feedback and opinions.
To make it easier for you, we've prepared a script for you to follow—feel free to adapt and personalize as you see fit!
"Hello, my name is _____ and I live at ____. I am calling to urge [legislator's name] to oppose granting taxpayer funding to Highland Copper and the Copperwood Mine, which is currently being considered in the Michigan Legislature.
It is not the responsibility of Michigan taxpayers to bail out Highland Copper, a foreign corporation with no prior mining experience, and enable the funding of an ill-conceived mining project in such a prized wilderness area as the Porcupine Mountains State Park.
Copperwood holds no guarantee of long-term economic prosperity for the western Upper Peninsula, and would put the ecological integrity of the Superior watershed at risk.
Thank you."
The more people who make their voice heard, the greater the chance of legislators hearing us. So spread the word!
Massive public opposition and outcry was instrumental in the denial of the SOAR grants to Copperwood twice in 2024 by the Michigan Senate, and we have to make sure our representatives haven't forgotten.
Take this moment to educate 3 friends about the Copperwood Project, and ask them to join you in taking action to prevent taxpayer funding of the Copperwood Mine. Don't know how to approach them? We've prepared some ideas below:
"Hey, [friend's name], do you have a second to talk about something important? There's this really dangerous proposal to build a copper sulfide mine next to the Porcupine Mountains, North Country Trail, and Lake Superior! It's called the Copperwood Project, backed by a Canadian company that has never even operated a mine before—and they want to use our taxpayer money to build it! The Michigan Legislature will be voting on funding soon, and it would really mean a lot to me if you signed a petition against it or made a phone call to an elected official. There's tons of resources that you can find at citizensforsuperior.org!"
"Hey! Have you ever been to the Porkies? It's such a beautiful place, with the Lake of the Clouds and Lake Superior on either side of you. I'd love to go with you, but I've been busy doing what I can to stop taxpayer funding of a copper sulfide mine proposed to be built right next to the park. A decision on funding could come any day now, and it's really easy to speak out against it. Just go to citizensforsuperior.org, they have a petition you can sign and scripts to follow if you want to reach out to elected officials!"
Writing to your elected officials in an email is another effective way at communicating issues of concern, while allowing for more length and depth than a phone call.
Contacting the officials responsible for voting on Copperwood funding will ensure your voice has the most impact. Below is a list of Michigan state legislators who sit on the two committees that are currently considering the Copperwood grants, and a list of federal representatives that Highland Copper will lobby for potential federal funding:
Top Targets - Michigan state legislators
Top Targets - Federal representatives
When writing an email to legislators, it is still important to remain respectful, clear, and to-the-point. Identify the most important points you'd like to raise—ideally the strongest and most effective at persuading legislators to support your position. Emails provide room to expand on these points, but be sure to limit your writing to key information.
To make it easier for you, we've prepared a script for you to follow—feel free to adapt and personalize as you see fit!
"Dear ____, my name is ____ and I live at ____. I am writing to urge you to oppose granting taxpayer funding to Highland Copper and the Copperwood Mine, in the form of the $50 million grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the Legislatively Directed Spending Request earmarked for Wakefield Township—both of which are currently being considered in the Michigan Legislature.
Highland Copper has been trying to spur investment for Copperwood for 15 years, and the project still lacks most of the $425 million needed to build the mine—demonstrating the lack of private interest in this risky project. It is not the responsibility of Michigan taxpayers to bail out Highland Copper, a foreign corporation with no prior mining experience, and enable the funding of an ill-conceived mining project in such a prized wilderness area.
The location of this proposed project, directly adjacent to Lake Superior, Porcupine Mountains State Park, and the North Country Trail, would put the ecological and recreational integrity of the area at risk. Copperwood's tailings pond would be visible from the Porkies' Lake of the Clouds Overlook, the most iconic view inside a park that receives over 500,000 visitors annually and was recently ranked as the most beautiful state park in the nation.
All copper mined at Copperwood would be shipped to Canada, with no promise that it would ever return to the U.S. or Michigan, and leave behind 30 million tons of toxic mine waste less than 2 miles from Lake Superior. With an 11-year mine life, Copperwood also holds no guarantee of long-term economic prosperity for the western U.P. In fact, many of the jobs Highland Copper claims will be created by the project will go to out-of-county and out-of-state residents.
Copperwood does not have the support of Wakefield Township community members attending public hearings, 465,000+ people who have signed onto a Change.org petition, and over 70 Michigan organizations that have written a letter opposing the mine. This project does not deserve our tax dollars. Please stand with the people, reject taxpayer funding for the Copperwood Mine, and encourage your colleagues to do so as well.
Thank you for your time and consideration."
Constituent comments and concerns submitted directly through the personal websites of state legislators may often receive higher priority than emails or phone calls. These inboxes are checked routinely, and your voice carries significant weight as a constituent of your legislators.
Follow the steps below to contact your legislators directly through constituent websites:
As in the action items above, it is important to stay clear and respectful when submitting constituent comments to your legislators. However, as you are a constituent, your legislator should be inclined to consider your comments more thoroughly than if you were contacting a legislator you are not a constituent of. Feel free to take a more compelling stance; explain why the Copperwood issue affects you personally and how it might influence your support of your legislator.
To make it easier for you, we've prepared a script for you to follow—feel free to adapt and personalize as you see fit!
"Dear ____, my name is ____ and I live at ____. I am urging you to deny granting taxpayer funding to Highland Copper and the Copperwood Mine, in the form of the $50 million grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the Legislatively Directed Spending Request earmarked for Wakefield Township—both of which are currently being considered in the Michigan Legislature.
At a time when the cost of living is so high, it is not right that my taxpayer dollars should be spent to bail out Highland Copper, a foreign corporation with no prior mining experience, and enable the funding of an ill-conceived mining project in such a prized wilderness area.
My family visits the Porcupine Mountains State Park and Lake Superior area every year for vacation, and Copperwood's tailings pond would be visible from the Lake of the Clouds overlook—our favorite view in the park. I sincerely hope to keep bringing my family to the Porkies, but I wouldn't be able to stomach the sight of 30 million tons of toxic waste next to such a peaceful area.
This project does not deserve out tax dollars. Please, reject taxpayer funding for the Copperwood Mine, and encourage you colleagues to do so as well.
Thank you."
Feel free to use and personalize the following talking points when speaking with legislators:
