Alcoa Gives Stanly County a Deadline

A company promising to bring 450 jobs to the former Alcoa aluminum smelter site in Badin has given Stanly County Commissioners a December 15th deadline to make the deal. The catch for Stanly County is that the company - called Clean Tech - will only open its silicon metal and rebar recycling plant in Badin if Alcoa is granted another 50 year license to operate dams on the Yadkin River. Stanly County is suing to kick Alcoa off the river and put the dams under state control. That dispute has been going on for years. Clean Tech's David Stickler was hopeful the county and Alcoa could work out their differences for the sake of creating jobs in an area that has struggled with unemployment. "It's been six months that this has been going on," says Stickler, referring to the time since Clean Tech first made its proposal to Stanly County. "That's long enough time for parties that want to find a path forward, to find a path forward." Stanly County Commissioners say they're still open to negotiations, but need long-term assurances that Clean Tech and Alcoa - which is a major investor in the project - will continue to provide jobs and public benefits in exchange for control of the Yadkin River.