Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is facing a familiar dilemma: economic revival through mining versus environmental preservation, this time with the added fight to protect its increasingly rare dark night skies.
A History of Extraction and Pollution
The region has long been shaped by resource extraction. In the early 20th century, copper mining left behind significant ecological damage, including vast deposits of metal-rich sand along Lake Superior’s shores. These deposits, a byproduct of the mining process, represent “maybe one of the greatest ecological disasters in the Great Lakes region,” according to wildlife ecologist Tom Oliver. Despite this legacy, these desolate beaches now offer some of the best views of the night sky in the Midwest.
The Renewed Mining Threat
Today, a new mining boom is brewing. Companies are exploring the Upper Peninsula as a source of critical minerals needed for the clean energy transition. Proponents, including lawmakers and some local residents, argue that this revival would inject much-needed capital into a struggling economy. However, the prospect of renewed mining operations is met with resistance from those who fear further pollution of both land, water, and the region’s exceptional night skies.
Why Dark Skies Matter
The fight for “the right to night” is more than just preserving a scenic view. Light pollution disrupts ecosystems, affects human health, and diminishes the cultural and scientific value of dark skies. The Upper Peninsula, with its remote location and limited development, remains one of the few places in the eastern U.S. where the Milky Way is still clearly visible.
The conflict highlights a broader tension: the need for resources to fuel a green economy versus the desire to protect the natural environment that makes the region unique. As the debate unfolds, residents and officials will grapple with balancing economic opportunity with the preservation of the Upper Peninsula’s natural heritage.
