8/21/2026

GOGEBIC RANGE - New statewide polling conducted by EPIC-MRA shows a majority (71%) of voters across Michigan support the Copperwood Project in the Western Upper Peninsula. The polling demonstrates statewide support, especially in Northern, Western and Central Michigan as well as the Bay Region. Among supporters, their strongest reasons for backing the project is because it has strong support from the local community, will follow Michigan’s strict environmental mining regulations and will create hundreds of good-paying jobs and restore economic opportunity in a region that has experienced decades of economic decline. Polling shows that while Michiganders appreciate the jobs and economic opportunities, 46% of respondents have some concern about the project’s impact on the environment. After consideration of environmental factors, support for the project remained high, with 61% of respondents in favor. Twenty-two units of government, ranging from townships to county boards have issued resolutions of support, nearly 10 local institutions have submitted letters of support and dozens of community leaders have spoken publicly in support. This includes Wakefield Township, Ironwood Township and Gogebic County where the project resides. The Copperwood Project has also received continuous bipartisan support from local, state and federal leaders, including Senator Elissa Slotkin, Congressman Jack Bergman and all four Upper Peninsula state legislators.

8/21/2026

BAYFIELD COUNTY – A judge in Bayfield County heard oral arguments yesterday in a case aimed to stop the Enbridge Line 5 reroute in Ashland and Iron Counties.  The Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and other environmental groups filed the lawsuit to overturn a permit awarded by the Wisconsin DNR to build 41 miles of new pipeline. Environmental groups say the ongoing construction project threatens the health of tribal waterways and wetlands and pointed to a recent drilling fluid spill and that the DNR violated the law when it granted the permit.  Enbridge says the project has been thoroughly studied and says “We continue to work through the court process and look forward to the judge’s decision on the merits. The permitting record for the Line 5 Wisconsin Segment Relocation Project speaks for itself.”  The hearing ended yesterday afternoon, with more briefs due next month. 

8/21/2026

ASHLAND - Keeping data centers out of the Ashland area was the focus of a forum last week in Ashland. The Daily Press reports speakers discussed ways communities can oppose large facilities used for cloud storage and artificial intelligence. Organizers highlighted public pressure, environmental reviews and local zoning. State Rep. Angela Stroud called for statewide regulations to protect communities from large tech companies. Community organizer Mary Dougherty urged Ashland and Bayfield counties to consider moratoriums and stronger zoning rules, saying residents should not bear the costs of data center development.