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» Blog Archive » Commissioners Comment on Status of Alcoa Negotiations - 1 views

  • Alcoa has stated they will provide financial assurances (up to $1.2 million) for the life of the license.  However, Alcoa has failed to inform the public these assurances are not worth the paper they are written on without sufficient enforcement measures included in the agreement.  Alcoa has refused to accept any language we have put forth that would provide sufficient remedies for the County to receive “financial assurances”, if Alcoa does not live up to its end of the bargain.
  • In fact, the proposal Alcoa presented includes an escape clause for any responsibilities due from the company, but it does not allow for review of the hydroelectric license once the license has been awarded.
  • As Alcoa’s latest offer stands, there is no efficient or cost effective way for the County to hold Alcoa accountable for its promises of jobs and investment
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  • This is not “compelling”… it is unreasonable.
  • It is not proper for parties to share incomplete information via the press in these types of proceedings until the discussions yield an agreement or officially cease.  Neither has occurred.
  • From the beginning, the County’s goals have been to ensure: (1) that the river is environmentally protected for generations to come, (2) that the use of water from the Yadkin River is best determined by citizens of North Carolina, and (3) that the flow of the river is used to maximize the impact of its resources for the benefit of its citizens.  
  • The goal of environmental protection is being addressed in the state 401 water quality permit process and includes the NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Alcoa/APGI, Stanly County and the Yadkin Riverkeeper.
  • he County believes its intervention in this process will lead to numerous water quality improvements.
  • (1) The Board of Commissioners is legally responsible for the public health and well-being of its citizens.  These basic environmental protection measures will lead to cleaner surface and ground water for our citizens now and for generations to come.  It is impossible to put a price tag on the value of one citizen’s life or well-being.   (2) The value of water will only increase as growth demands in the Charlotte region, Piedmont Triad and along the I-85 corridor strain our available water resources.  Regional organizations to the east and west of the Yadkin River basin are planning for water use over the coming decades and our citizens need to be doing the same. (3) The water of the Yadkin belongs to the people and has tremendous value from an electrical generation perspective.  The benefits should not simply be given away to a global corporation to support its operations in other states and foreign countries. This simply transfers wealth out of our community and that is unacceptable. 
  • The County is seeking fair and reasonable compensation for the long-term use of the river.
  •   However, without long-term financial assurances these jobs and the associated taxable investment will remain over the course of a 30, 40 or 50 year license term, it would not be wise to simply drop our reasonable demands.
  •   Should our citizens accept a static amount for a settlement when the value of the resource will increase exponentially over the term of the license?
  • We, as Commissioners, will continue to seek the best outcome for Stanly County.
  • I’m so proud of (and awed by) the Commissioners for thinking of the bigger picture and the long term needs of the community. This is nothing short of blackmail — and failing that, bribery! –on Alcoa’s part. The only reason they’ve ever offered anything is because of the Commissioner’s strong stand against a massive corporate giveaway. Good for you Commissioners! I salute you.
  • Stanly County upheld its end of the bargain for 50 years. It’s time to reclaim use of the water for the betterment of all Yadkin Valley communities. Looks to me like Alcoa is the one stalling, not the commissioners.
  • We must put our fate in our own hands not with a corporation who has no responsibility to our region or our state.
  • I applaud the Commissioners’ continued resolve to do what is in the best interests of our citizens. Future prosperity in Stanly County depends on the Yadkin hydropower. Since the beginning of time, communities have only thrived because of their access to water …for drinking, recreation, trade and fuel. Had our water not been under the control of Alcoa for the last 50 years, we would be in much better shape economically. By leveraging the Yadkin hydropower, we could have already replaced our lost manufacturing jobs with higher paying jobs that reflect the needs of the 21st century. We would be absolute fools to once again relinquish control of our waters to Alcoa for another 50 years. We need to reserve the flexibility to control our own destiny—not “outsource” it to a multinational corporation that has a poor record of stewardship and corporate responsibility in our region.
  • “Since the operation of the Badin smelting works is dependent upon the availability of power supply, Carolina Aluminum must regard its smelting activities at Badin to be limited to the term of the license of the Yadkin Project, which is its source of power supply. In formulating its plans, and weighing the advisability of the $37,000,000 program, the management of Carolina Aluminum had to assume, therefore, that power would be available from the Yadkin Project at economically feasible rates only during the original license term. Under Section 14 of the Act, any project may be “recaptured” at the expiration of the license term. In formulating its plans, therefore, the management of Carolina Aluminum could not rely upon any assured source of power supply after the expiration of its license for the Yadkin Project”
  • The “project properties” are held in trust by the Government for the people. It is the “project properties” that a multi-national, foreign controlled, private enterprise is trying to “hijack” away from “we the people”.
  • Alcoa has never owned “the riverbed”. The do pay taxes in an attempt to lay claim to the riverbed. The state constitution and federal law does not support their claim. With that said, refer back to the 1958 license agreement. Alcoa gave up rights to the submerged land “the project property” in exchange for the monopoly use of the water as free fuel for a guaranteed profit for 50 years. Article 14 of the The Federal Power Act clearly spells out the option Alcoa gave the Federal Government in exchange for the use of the “peoples waters”.
Yadkin River

Steel firm wants to diversify overseas - China.org.cn - 0 views

  • The company and the US-based Steel Development Company signed a deal in September last year to jointly build a steel rebar project in the US market. Total investment in the Mississippi steel rebar project is $168 million, with Anshan Steel taking a 14-percent share. Anshan Iron also plans to acquire nickel and chromium resources through overseas mergers or purchases, as the company considers building a stainless steel and specialty steel business to further diversify, Zhang said. Wang Min, Party chief of Northeast China's Liaoning province, where Anshan Steel is located, said the merger between Anshan Iron and Benxi Iron and Steel Group will make progress soon.
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    The company and the US-based Steel Development Company signed a deal in September last year to jointly build a steel rebar project in the US market. Total investment in the Mississippi steel rebar project is $168 million, with Anshan Steel taking a 14-percent share. Anshan Iron also plans to acquire nickel and chromium resources through overseas mergers or purchases, as the company considers building a stainless steel and specialty steel business to further diversify, Zhang said. Wang Min, Party chief of Northeast China's Liaoning province, where Anshan Steel is located, said the merger between Anshan Iron and Benxi Iron and Steel Group will make progress soon. Anshan Steel announced in 2005 that it agreed to acquire Benxi Steel to form Anben Iron and Steel Group; however, the two firms have yet to transfer their operating assets to the new entity. The two companies' financial, sales and purchasing departments haven't been integrated. The move is a part of Anshan Steel's bid to reach an annual production capacity of 60 million tons in the next five years and to become one of the world's top five steelmakers by 2015.
Yadkin River

Steel companies braced for price falls - FT.com - 0 views

  • October 9, 2011 2:46 pm
  • The steel industry faces tough times with companies braced for falling prices as buyers delay orders because of extreme nervousness about global economic weakness.
  • China. The country has been the chief locomotive in driving up the expansion of the global industry.
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  • aid he foresaw the turbulence spilling over into 2012 – a year he said was likely to be marked by “short-term economic and financial issues impacting long-term economic sustainability”.
  • According to a survey for the Financial Times by six industry experts, growth in world steel shipments is set to slow to 4.9 per cent next year after a likely 6.6 per cent this year.
Yadkin River

Calisolar | Ceramic Tech Today - 0 views

    • Yadkin River
       
      Yeah -- That has me scratching my Head Too.... Go Figure!
  • “The reason we’re coming here, and I’m going to be frank, is the Mississippi farm boys and the farm girls. I wouldn’t trade a Mississippi farm boy or farm girl for any Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Mexican, South American.”
  • At the time, Calisolar said it couldn’t meet construction deadlines linked to some state-based financial incentives.
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  • a company spokesperson told me that the no other location was being contemplated
  • Those are nice incentives, but what doesn’t add up is that by shifting to Mississippi, Calisolar gave up a $275 million DOE loan guarantee and a deal through Ohio Public Utility Commission that would have saved the company $100 million in utility bills over ten years.
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      No ... Did Correnti say that ?  Really ??
Yadkin River

Stanly not jumping at latest Alcoa plan | Salisbury, NC - Salisbury Post - 0 views

  • but we can understand wanting some guarantees behind it,” Anton said. “We’ve proposed that there would be payments made to the county if we didn’t deliver on either the investment or the jobs for the
  • But in a press release issued Thursday, Stanly County said Alcoa’s financial assurances “are not worth the paper they are written on without sufficient enforcement measures.”
  • The county says it is “seeking fair and reasonable compensation for the long-term use of the river.”
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  • The county says Alcoa refused to include language that would enforce the agreement if the company doesn’t live up to its end of the bargain. “As Alcoa’s latest offer stands, there is no efficient or cost effective way for the county to hold Alcoa accountable for its promises of jobs and investment,” the press release states. “This is not ‘compelling;’ it is unreasonable.
  • “We recognize the difficult times in the local economy, and the fact that for the last several years, Alcoa has not been the contributor it had been in the past,” Anton said.
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      Exactly Mr. Anton ! If the Stanly County Commissioners had not put Alcoa's Feet to the FIRE, we wouldn't even be having this discussion!
  • Anton said the county would have control over the money, and Alcoa’s only condition is that it be directed toward infrastructure and education
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WFAE 90.7 FM - 0 views

  • So much misinformation. FERC statement about not being an option is boiler plate language referring to there be no other applicant at time license filed. Alcoa gave up rights when they accepted monopoly use of public waters as free fuel and argued for 30 year license in vs. 50 license because they wanted extra years to recover building Tucker Town and new pot lines. They acknowledged they had no assurances of keeping the project property at end of license period. Water worth billions and tens of thousands of jobs should not be traded for pennies and a promise. The water is what will guaratee jobs and prosperity ...not Alcoa. Hydro is self financing...will not cost the tax payers a dime. Forward contracts on power sales or revenue bonds like financed Santee will get the job done. Comment by Waterperson - December 9, 2011 2:20 PM
Yadkin River

Alcoa pushes jobs; locals push back - journalpatriot: Opinion - 0 views

  • But making those jobs contingent on the outcome of the legal dispute looks a lot like holding a gun to the head of the county.It’s more evidence of a company that can’t decide whether it wants to play bully or beneficiary.Alcoa has made clear that it wants to retain control of the dams, and shown no indication that it will give up the fight. Why would it? Electricity generation from the dams earned the company between $7.3 million and $8 million in each of the last three years, according to financial statements released in March
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Alcoa Kicks Off Earnings Season With A Thud, Profits Fall Short - Forbes - 0 views

  • no surprise given that fears around European sovereign debt and U.S. economic growth took center stage — but touted growth in most regions. The aluminum producer recorded growth in end markets aside from Europe, the CEO said, “though at a slower rate than in the first half, as confidence in the global recovery faded.”
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Chinese Companies Go Abroad (Introduction) - Seeking Alpha - 0 views

  • With China facing little of the credit squeeze problems afflicting much of the rest of the world, many Chinese companies plan to take advantage of the global downturn to make greater inroads into the West.
  • Companies plan to increase dramatically their adoption of M&A as a main growth strategy over the next five years, and cash rich companies will likely use the current decreased valuations abroad as a way to gain entry on favorable terms. In this way, the financial crisis can be an opportunity for cash rich, low debt or debt free Chinese companies.
  • The most popular strategy was the creation of partnerships, with partners ranging from distributors to academic institutions to PR and law firms, followed by organic and export-focused growth. While M&A is currently used much less frequently, respondents expect to use this strategy with increasing frequency going forward, as a way to tap into existing brand awareness overseas, as well as existing sales channels and distribution networks, talent pools, and to gain first hand insight into overseas markets.
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Example of Chinese Investments - Chinese Investors - 0 views

  • China is undeniably a global economic powerhouse. While the global financial crisis was a catastrophe for most economies, it was more an opportunity than a challenge for China. United States is keen to allow Chinese investment into small and medium US banks. America now realises that for its economy to come out of the crisis fully, foreign investment is badly required. Meanwhile, China with its $2-trillion foreign currency assets is on the prowl.
  • n February 2008, Aluminum Corp of China (Chinalco) joined hands with Alcoa Inc to buy a 12 per cent holding in UK-listed Rio Tinto for $14 billion, just days before mining rival BHP Billiton (the Australian mining giant) was to make a formal offer for Rio Tinto.
  • enovo Group, acquired the controlling stake in IBM's PC business. The $1.25 billion deal saw Lenovo jump to the third spot amongst the world's largest PC makers.
Yadkin River

» Blog Archive » Commissioners Hear Debate Over Yadkin Project - 1 views

  • In a power point presentation, Chairman Dunevant challenged the numbers released by Alcoa last week as to their options on the table, particularly the $1.2 million financial guarantee from Alcoa to Stanly County should the 450 Clean Tech jobs not materialize. Dunevant pressed the value of this guarantee over the life of the 50-year license, asserting that Alcoa had not factored in depreciation. Dunevant contended that due to inflation that amount would be worth only $500,000 by the year 2020 and just $188,000 at the end of 50 years when the license would again be up for renewal.
  • On the flip side, Dunevant said that Alcoa’s profits from dam revenues would grow at a 3.15% inflation rate from Alcoa’s reported $25 million per year to $114 million at the end of 50 years.
  • “I hope you got that… $1.2 million down to $185,000 and $25 million up to $114 million,” Dunevant stated.
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  • In addition to seeing this as inequitable for Stanly County, Dunevant made the point that the $1.2 million would not come directly to Stanly County, rather the funds would go to an economic development trust to be co-managed by the commissioners and the N.C. Department of Commerce. “The money would not go to human services, education or public safety, but to an economic development trust,” Dunevant said.
  • “We will be looking for some long-term guarantee that offsets the inflation. A penalty is supposed to create an incentive to perform, not the opposite,” Dunevant said regarding the $1.2 million guarantee now on the table that shrinks over time.
  • “That shows me that water is becoming a commodity,” Snyder said. “We don’t need to allow a coup to obtain a license for clean water at the expense of the public.”
  • “Alcoa thought they’d get a rubber stamp for renewal, but there’s too much discord in this community for that,” Bryant said. We need to recapture the FERC license and remove Alcoa.”
  • “It’s ludicrous to think the commissioners don’t want jobs,” Dick said.
  • Bramlett warns of selling Stanly County’s birthright
  • “We don’t need to sell our birthright for a cup of soup,
  • “I’ve never seen bribery and blackmail like what had been going on the past couple weeks,” he said regarding the Alcoa commitments and Clean Tech deadline. “Alcoa has falsified records and poisoned this river. You have every right not to trust Alcoa.”
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