Century Aluminum Officials To Regroup

A bill that would have helped Century Aluminum reopen its Jackson County plant failed to make it out of the Senate Finance Committee this week.

Michael Dildine is with Century Aluminum.  "We're disappointed and we're going to continue to work to find solutions to make the plant more competitive," he said when asked about the bill's failure.

Century closed in 2009 when the aluminum market crashed because of the recession. The company asked the state Legislature to consider a $20 million a year credit for ten years to help the plant pay a multi-million electric bill it owes to Appalachian Power once the plant is fully up and running again.

The committee voted down that bill. Some members objected because they didn't see the benefit for taxpayers who would have been footing the bill.

Dildine says in order to reopen the plant they need some help.  "We need competitive energy and this was a setback in that regard."

But, he says, the company needs more than just financial help from the state to restart the idled plant.

"We need a flexible, competitive energy contract. We need an enabling labor contract. And we need to feel comfortable that aluminum markets are going to stay healthy for a period of time."