Gogebic County appoints Johnson, who eyes energy sale and mining

The Gogebic County Board of Commissioners appointed Keith Johnson of Ironwood Township to the vacant District 2 seat. Johnson named two priorities: the pending sale of Xcel Energy’s Michigan operations and the Copperwood copper mining project, according to The Daily Globe.

The board chose Johnson at a special meeting Monday, Nov. 2, according to the county’s draft minutes. The seat had been open since Joseph Cayer resigned Oct. 7.

Johnson was selected over three other applicants: Jay Aijala, Larry Kapugia and Kristen Waurio. The minutes show that commissioners voted twice before approving his appointment.

In the initial vote, Aijala and Johnson each received one vote, while Kapugia received two. Commissioners Peter Matonich and Daniel Wood were absent, and no candidate secured a majority.

In the second round, Commissioner James Lorenson nominated Johnson, who then received three votes. Lorenson moved to cast a unanimous ballot, and all commissioners present voted aye.

Energy sale tops his list

Xcel Energy announced Oct. 6 that it plans to sell its Michigan electric operations to Upper Peninsula Power Company and its Michigan natural gas operations to SEMCO Energy Gas Co. The companies expect the transaction to close in 2027, subject to regulatory approval, according to their announcement.

“I believe this is going to be the No. 1 concern in Gogebic County,” Johnson told The Globe.

UPPCO says existing Xcel customers would retain a separate rate structure when the transaction closes, rather than automatically paying current UPPCO rates. The company says it has no plans to combine the two rate structures for the foreseeable future.

Copperwood mining project

Johnson also pointed to the Copperwood copper mining project in Wakefield and Ironwood townships as a priority. He told The Globe he supports moving mining forward.

The project, planned by Highland Copper’s subsidiary Copperwood Resources Inc., has a construction cost the company pegged at $450 million. Highland Copper has said the mine would create about 380 jobs at an average wage of $80,000, according to Bridge Michigan reporting published by Michigan Public in September.

The Michigan Strategic Fund Board approved $50 million in state grants for the project on Aug. 25, according to the Michigan Economic Development Corp.. That total included about $45 million to Copperwood Resources and about $5 million to the Gogebic County Road Commission for road upgrades.

Protect the Porkies challenged the funding in September. The grassroots group filed an appeal in Ingham County Circuit Court to block the funding, as Bridge Michigan reported. Critics have pointed to the mine site’s proximity to Lake Superior, the North Country Trail and Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park.