Staff report
RALEIGH ó Alcoa isn’t pleased with Gov. Bev Perdue’s plans to get in the middle of the relicensing dispute involving the Yadkin River.
Perdue released a statement Wednesday saying she has asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which would issue the license, to allow the state to intervene. Perdue wants the federal government to take over the license.
Alcoa Power Generating Inc. issued the following statement in response:
“The state of North Carolina took an unprecedented step (Wednesday) by pursuing the takeover of a privately owned business that has roots in North Carolina dating back to 1915. It’s a move that could ultimately cost North Carolina taxpayers more than $500 million. Alcoa does business in 34 countries around the world and it’s extremely rare to be faced with a situation where a state government wants to seize one of our businesses and operate it for its own benefit.
“Every other business owner in North Carolina should be concerned about the dangerous precedent this action sets. Gov. Perdue’s motion to intervene in the federal relicensing of the Yadkin Hydroelectric Project comes more than six years after the federal relicensing process began.”
Alcoa noted it has invested heavily in the Yadkin Project and will fight to ensure it receives full value for its property. The Badin plant it once had is no longer operating.
“The waters of the Yadkin River belong to the people of North Carolina. Fifty years ago, we endorsed Alcoa’s request for a federal license to operate hydroelectric dams on the river because they powered the company’s aluminum smelting works,” Perdue said in the statement. “That facility was a linchpin in the regional economy and created jobs for up to 1,000 North Carolina workers. Today, the smelter and the jobs are gone ó and so is the reason for the license.”
The company is seeking a 50-year license, but some state officials are concerned about a private company having such control over a public resource.