Alcoa Threatens Shutdown Of SC Plant

WFAE's Julie Rose reported Monday that a company affiliated with Alcoa promises hundreds of jobs in Stanly County as long as county leaders drop opposition to Alcoa's efforts to a secure a new 50-year license to operate four dams on the Yadkin River. Now, Alcoa is threatening to close an aluminum plant in Goose Creek, SC., unless it gets lower rates from the state-owned Santee-Cooper electric utility, Bloomberg reports: "The big challenge for us to go forward is the power problem," plant manager Mike Rousseau told reporters. "With the economy the way it is, we have to solve this." Alcoa says the plant's electric bill is $4 million a week. Alcoa wants to negotiate a lower rate for a 10 to 20-year contract. The smelter employee more than 600 workers. A Santee-Cooper spokeswoman says the utility is optimistic a solution will be reached.