1. United States
2. Mich.
3. Letter

The $50 million taxpayer-funded grant for the proposed Copperwood Mine poses severe risks to Michigan's precious natural resources and fails to prioritize the interests of our state and its residents. The mine would operate in unprecedented proximity to Lake Superior, a vital freshwater source containing 10% of the planet's surface freshwater, violating Michigan's Healthy Climate goal of conserving 30% of our land and water by 2030. Moreover, the mine threatens to disrupt the pristine environment of Porcupine Mountains State Park, ranked as the most beautiful state park nationwide, through pollution, noise, blasting, and industrial traffic. This jeopardizes our thriving outdoor recreation industry that contributes over $12 billion annually to Michigan's economy. Most concerningly, the copper extracted would be shipped out of the country to benefit a Canadian mining company, while Michigan would receive mere pennies through its abysmally low 2.75% severance tax rate. In essence, we would be pawning off our valuable natural resources for a pittance to serve foreign corporate interests at the expense of our own environmental heritage and economic well-being. Michiganders have fought tirelessly to protect these lands from exploitation, and we must continue this legacy by rejecting the Copperwood grant and safeguarding our state's natural treasures for future generations.