Ben Garbacz/Daily Mining Gazette State Rep. Greg Markkanen, flanked by the Huskies Pep Band, read a tribute to CalumetDuring the village's recent 150th Anniversary celebration. Markkanen is firing back at an environmental groups opposition to the Copperwood project in Gogebic County.

WAKEFIELD — A September 15 release from Invest UP announced: “Supporters of responsible economic development, the majority of whom live in the Western Upper Peninsula, came together with elected officials, industry representatives and labor and economic development leaders to stand united for their support of the $50 million infrastructure grant request from Wakefield Township.”

The release says the grant will help attract once-in-a-generation economic development investments such as the Copperwood Project.

Sponsored by Rep. Greg Markkanen, the $50 million grant will help Wakefield Township make infrastructure improvements and upgrades that it could not make on its own to attract much-needed jobs and opportunities to the region, the release says. Approval will unlock long-overdue infrastructure investment for the Western U.P., putting people to work, strengthening local communities and giving the region the foundation it needs to grow.

One environmental group opposes the grant, and the Copperwood Project. An August 6, 2025 online petition drive published by Protect the Porkies states its goal is to ensure that when the House and Senate meet in joint conference, the House will agree to drop the grant request.

The petition goes on to appeal to non-Michigan residents, saying out-of-state participation (in the petition) is crucial, adding: “Lake Superior and the Porcupine Mountains are entities whose tremendous collective importance far transcends imaginary map lines.”

In a September 17 telephone interview Markkanen said that while Protect the Porkies has gathered many signatures, they have been gathered by spreading misinformation, and omitting pertinent facts. “What these people that are protesting aren’t even bringing up,” Markkanen said, “is that this money is also going to help Wakefield township finish off their industrial park, bring the electric grid back there, and make County Road 5199 an all-season road so the township can access a lot more property. And you know, the timber industry can access a lot more timber.”

Invest UP reported in May that Wakefield Township requested approval from the legislature to administer the $50 million grant to allow the township to make improvements and upgrades to local roads, power and telecommunications infrastructure that it could not make on its own to attract much-needed jobs and opportunities to the region.

The Protect the Porkies petition drive argues the proposed Copperwood Project, a sulfide copper mine, threatens Lake Superior and the Porcupine Mountains. Markkanen takes issue with that allegation.

“There is nobody in the Keweenaw, including Houghton and Hancock, or any of the 15 U.P. counties,” he said, “that wants to contaminate our Great Lakes – they’re priceless.”

Markkanen said the environmental group is spreading lies and misinformation to scare people into thinking the mine would contaminate Lake Superior.

“And, that’s just not true,” he said. “I mean, it’s just misinformation and that’s all it is. Why would all six counties in the western U.P, and their county boards, sign resolutions supporting the project? Why would EGLE (Michigan Dept. of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy) permit it?”

In February, Copperwood received an updated air permit from EGLE, and also hold a Permit to Install, also approved in February. The permits ensure the Copperwood Project adheres to environmental regulations, protecting public health and the environment.

The Copperwood project is one of very few fully permitted greenfield copper mines in the United States and meets the strict environmental standards established by the State of Michigan. Michigan’s mining laws, passed with the support of environmental advocacy groups, are regarded as the most stringent mining regulations in the nation. Copperwood will not draw water from Lake Superior and is not permitted to mine under Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park.

Invest UP’s May release said the Western UP has suffered industry closures, hospital closures, declining school populations and degrading regional infrastructure that have made it hard for the region to attract economic development opportunities and retain its workforce, especially younger generations. This grant would help the region make the necessary infrastructure improvements to move transformational projects like the Copperwood Project forward.