FERNDALE, Wash. – The climate and health care bill passed by Congress and signed by President Biden contains provisions that could help restart the Intalco aluminum smelter.
But affordable electricity is still a big hurdle for energy-hungry aluminum production.
The Seattle Times reports that the law dubbed the Inflation Reduction Act includes tax incentives and grant money for low carbon aluminum production in the U.S.
A former Alcoa executive who’s helping to lead the restart effort says the law includes resources to help get the Cherry Point plant up and running, but they still need a favorable power deal.
So far, they’ve been unable to reach an agreement with the Bonneville Power Administration, which sells electricity generated by federal Pacific Northwest dams.
Alcoa mothballed the smelter in 2020, but investment firm Blue Wolf Capital Partners hopes to bring it back to life and restore some 700 jobs.