Alcoa donates three home sites in Badin to Stanly County Habitat for Humanity

APGI’s Nicole Wright presents the deeds to three vacant lots in Badin to Cemita Gibbs, executive director of Stanly County Habitat for Humanity.

Three new Habitat for Humanity homes will soon be coming to Badin, thanks to a land donation made by Alcoa Power Generating Inc. (APGI).

APGI has donated three vacant lots in Badin to Stanly County Habitat for Humanity. The organization expects to begin construction of new homes on these lots later this year.

“Alcoa’s partnership enables Stanly County Habitat to continue our mission that everyone should have a decent place to live,” said Cemita Gibbs, executive director of Stanly County Habitat for Humanity. “With these additional lots we will be able to give a ‘hand up’ and provide a no interest mortgage for additional families in our community. Alcoa is a corporation that sees the unique role home ownership plays in the development and resiliency of our community and we feel they are committed to helping make a difference.”

Alcoa has been a long-time partner of Stanly County Habitat for Humanity. It has previously donated two lots in Badin and a pickup truck to the organization.

“We’ve seen what a positive impact Habitat for Humanity makes in our community and we’re delighted that we can play a part in providing new homes to deserving families,” said Nicole Wright, APGI Foundation Coordinator. “Our employees look forward to volunteering on the construction of these new homes.”

ERI to add 75 new jobs at Badin Business Park

We just received some great news from ERI. They have announced plans to hire 75 more employees at Badin Business Park before the holiday season.

Electronic Recyclers International, the nation’s leading recycler of electronic waste, operates regional recycling centers across the country. The recycling center in Badin, NC opened in 2011 to cover the Southeast US. It is one of the company's fastest-growing locations.

“Our business is growing fast and we continue to expand at each of our locations around the country,” said John Shegerian, ERI’s Chairman and CEO. “Every year around the holidays we see a huge influx of unwanted electronics being discarded to make way for new and incoming gifts. We need more people to handle this surge now and who can develop their careers with us moving forward.”

People interested in applying for a job can submit a resume online at: www.electronicrecyclers.com/about-us/careers.aspx.

A wide range of positions are available, including CRT Dismantler, E-Scrap Sorter, Forklift Operator, Repair Specialists and many other warehouse positions. Click here to read the ERI announcement.

The Final Barrier

The Stanly News & Press published on Tuesday a column I wrote regarding the latest developments regarding the Yadkin Project relicensing. Here's a copy of the column, titled "The Final Barrier":

When you stand atop the Narrows Dam, you can see for miles in every direction. There’s the Uwharrie National Forest and Morrow Mountain State Park, both remarkable for their pristine, undisturbed beauty. Between them flows the water of the Yadkin River.

That water – and four dams constructed along the river by Alcoa – has been the topic of much debate in Stanly County for more than a decade.

Dams, by definition, are a barrier. They capture the water flowing down the river and put it to good use – reservoirs like Badin Lake provide drinking water to local communities, generate clean and renewable energy, create recreational opportunities for people who love to swim, boat and fish, and spur economic development in the surrounding communities.

Alcoa has operated its dams along the Yadkin River for nearly 100 years. But when the company sought a new federal license for its dams, a new set of barriers emerged.

Many people in Stanly County were concerned about the jobs that were eliminated when the Badin plant closed. So shortly after the Badin plant was formally closed in 2010, we immediately began working to redevelop the property. We invested more than $10 million to transform the site into the Badin Business Park, which now ranks among the best industrial sites in North Carolina.

In 2011, Alcoa recruited the nation’s largest electronic waste recycler to Badin. ERI opened a regional recycling center that continues to grow.

Our commitment to jobs helped us reach an agreement with Stanly County last spring. The agreement includes significant investments to support economic development and provides the county with long-term access to clean, affordable water to support the county’s growth. We are now working in partnership with the county to recruit new jobs to the Badin Business Park.

In addition, we continue working to make Stanly County a better place to live. Alcoa awarded scholarships to local high school valedictorians, donated land for a Habitat for Humanity home in West Badin, and donated $20,000 to promote science and technology courses in Stanly County schools.

Only one barrier to a new license remained: obtaining a water quality certificate (known as a 401) from the NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources that recognized Alcoa’s commitment to meet state water quality standards.

In August, the agency was prepared to issue a 401 certificate for the Yadkin Project.

Our investment in new technology at Badin Lake had resulted in significant water quality improvements. In fact, our annual monitoring now shows that water leaving the Yadkin Project was meeting key water quality standards that will take affect once a new license is issued for the Yadkin Project.

With a proven technology in place and a commitment to spend an additional $80 million to fund further improvements upstream, Alcoa had successfully demonstrated its commitment to water quality.

After months of public hearings and careful evaluation by water quality professionals, DENR was ready to act. It prepared a copy of the 401 certificate and notified us about the impending announcement.

But a new, unexpected barrier emerged.

Gov. McCrory claimed the state owned the land under our dams and filed a lawsuit against Alcoa. His administration inserted itself into the regulatory process and insisted that DENR deny our 401 application.

So, once again, we find ourselves in a familiar place: fighting for the right to run the dams we built on the property we own. It’s a clear threat to our property rights – and the rights of anyone who owns property along a waterway in North Carolina.

For Stanly County, the lawsuit has unfortunate consequences.

It will further delay benefits such as the expansion of Morrow Mountain State Park, the development of a new waterfront park in Badin, the donation of land for a new water treatment plant, the funding of future economic development initiatives, and a host of other benefits for those who live or play on the lakes.

But our commitment to this community remains steadfast.

We will continue working to improve water quality and protect the beautiful natural resources along the river. We will continue providing time and money to support worthwhile causes in the community. And we will continue paying property taxes on the land we are fighting to protect.

We didn’t pick this legal fight, but we are prepared to defend our property rights in court. No matter how long it takes. 

Name the Alcoa Osprey Chicks at Badin Lake

Alcoa launched an online contest on today that allows fans of its OspreyCam to choose names for three osprey chicks hatched two weeks ago. The online contest features several names submitted by students at Badin Elementary School.

The Alcoa OspreyCam, a live webcam that follows a pair of osprey at Badin Lake, spotted the eggs in late March and watched until they hatched in late April. Since then, viewers have watched the parents bring fish to the nest and lovingly feed the chicks.

Now it’s time to give the chicks a proper name.

Students at Badin Elementary submitted ideas for the online poll. Some of the suggested names (Ollie, Olive, and Oscar Jr.) are tied to their parents — named Oliver and Oliveea by Alcoa employees at  the dam — while others reflect the traditional role of osprey (Hunter, Fisher) or the attitude these chicks embody (Spirit, Grace).

“The students had a lot of fun suggesting names for the birds. We got some terrific suggestions and are excited about seeing which names are chosen,” said Mark Gross,technical manager for Alcoa Power Generating Inc.

To vote for your favorite set of names, go to www.alcoa.com/ospreycam.

Alcoa OspreyCam: Three baby chicks have arrived

The Alcoa OspreyCam, a live webcam that follows a pair of osprey at Badin Lake, has captured the hatching of three baby chicks. Over the next two months, viewers can watch the parents feed and care for the chicks as they grow and prepare to take flight.

Osprey chicks usually fledge — or leave the nest for their first flight — in late June or early July. The chicks can be seen making practice flights across the nest as they get ready to take flight.

“It’s a great way to see the wonder of nature, right here in our own backyard,” said Mark Gross, technical manager for Alcoa Power Generating Inc. “It’s fascinating to watch these little chicks grow and take flights.”

The OspreyCam can be viewed at www.alcoa.com/ospreycam. Visitors can follow updates through the website and join in the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #AlcoaOspreyCam.

Naming Contest

Alcoa will launch an online contest on later this week to select names for the trio of Osprey chicks. Students from Badin Elementary School suggested names that will be used in the online vote.

“The students had a lot of fun suggesting names for the birds. We got some terrific suggestions and are excited about seeing which names are chosen,” Gross said.

About the OspreyCam

Alcoa launched the OspreyCam in May 2012 to follow two osprey — named Oliveea and Oscar by Alcoa employees — who return every year to a nest situated atop the Narrows Dam. The OspreyCam has received more than 541,000 hits from 87 countries since it was introduced.

Ospreys are large birds — with a wingspan of 5-6 feet — that resemble bald eagles. The birds live along rivers, lakes and other large bodies of water where they can feed on fish. The open water and large tracts of undeveloped shoreline at the Yadkin Project provide the perfect setting for wildlife such as bald eagles, ospreys, great blue herons and great egrets. 

Alcoa’s OspreyCam Returns: Live Feed Provides Close-Up View of Ospreys at the Yadkin Project

Alcoa has brought back its popular OspreyCam, a live camera that follows a pair of osprey who make their home at Badin Lake. The OspreyCam can be viewed online at www.alcoa.com/ospreycam.

Alcoa originally launched the camera in May 2012 to follow two osprey — named Oliveea and Oscar by Alcoa employees — who return every year to a nest situated atop the Narrows Dam. Last year, viewers were able to closely watch the development of three baby chicks as they grew and prepared to take flight.

More baby chicks are on the way. 

Oliveea recently laid two eggs that should hatch in late April. Viewers will be able to watch as the chicks are hatched and will be able to take part in a contest to help name the birds.

The OspreyCam has received more than 541,000 hits from 87 countries since it was introduced.

“The response has been incredible,” said Mark Gross, technical manager for Alcoa Power Generating Inc. “We have been following these birds for several years and its exciting to share these amazing images with people around the world.”

Visitors can follow updates on the bird in a related blog on the Alcoa site and can join in the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #AlcoaOspreyCam.

Ospreys are large birds — with a wingspan of 5-6 feet — that resemble bald eagles. The birds live along rivers, lakes and other large bodies of water where they can feed on fish. The open water and large tracts of undeveloped shoreline at the Yadkin Project provide the perfect setting for wildlife such as bald eagles, ospreys, great blue herons and great egrets.

“We are proud that our commitment to preserving the natural habitat around the Yadkin Project has maintained an environment where bald eagles, ospreys and other wildlife can continue to thrive,” Gross said.

Alcoa also operates an EagleCam that provides a live look at two bald eagle chicks in Davenport, Iowa. The site, www.alcoa.com/eaglecam, received more than 12 million visitors last year.

Habitat for Humanity breaks ground on West Badin home

Stanly County Habitat for Humanity has begun construction on its first home in West Badin. The home, located on one two properties donated by Alcoa, will allow Habitat to fulfill another family’s dream of home ownership. 

“We are a company that believes strongly in supporting our communities,” said Kevin Anton, Alcoa’s Chief Sustainability Officer. “In Badin and around the world, Alcoans like to build things. This is a great cause that we were happy to support.”

Anton visited the Badin site last week with a team of Alcoa employees and Habitat leadership. 

“We are grateful for the partnership of Alcoa and are excited about the possibilities of helping this community grow,” said Cemita Gibbs, Executive Director of Stanly County Habitat for Humanity. “It is obvious by this donation that Alcoa cares about their community and the people.”

Alcoa employees plan to take part in building the home. 

“Our employees have already told me that they are looking forward to volunteering to help Habitat for Humanity during the construction of this home,” Nicole Wright, Alcoa Foundation Coordinator. “It’s a great way to give back to the community and we look forward to the start of the project.”

Recycling Today highlights Alcoa - ERI partnership

The January 16 issue of Recycling Today features a discussion with Alcoa's Chief Sustainability Officer Kevin Anton about Alcoa's investment in Electronic Recyclers International (ERI) and the importance of electronics recycling.  

Here's an excerpt: 

Recycling has long been a part of Alcoa's history as well as that of the aluminum industry's in general. ... The importance of recycling to Alcoa's business has prompted the company to invest in many initiatives in the last year, including taking a stake in Fresno, Calif.-based Electronic Recycling International (ERI), upgrading its Tennessee can reclamation facility, constructing a new facility in Ohio to recycle truck wheels and constructing new recycling furnaces in Spain. 

"We are putting capital in the ground to be able to increase our usage of scrap and, at the same time, taking efforts to increase the supply side of scrap, particularly the can. It is pretty fundamental to who we are," Anton says.

Recycling Today: Alcoa took a stake in ERI in 2011. What made the company an attractive investment? What does Alcoa hope to gain through its relationship with ERI?

Anton: If you think about consumer electronics, you often have products that have life cycles of less than two years. You start to think, "How can the world allow products that are so prolific and that have such a short life cycle and not have a proper end-of-life solution for them?" We see consumer electronics as being a great growth market for aluminum because of the recyclability, plus the attributes that aluminum brings to the product. It's got great consumer appeal through the look and the feel, but also the thermal properties of aluminum help the designers manufacture the product smaller, thinner, lighter, and the heat dissipation properties of aluminum help the designers manage the heat from the circuitry. It is a real win-win.

Just like when we helped establish the market for the aluminum can—we are the leader in that market—we recognized that there was a need to create closed-loop recycling and get the cans recovered, and we built the infrastructure to do that. The analogy here is that we are helping establish the infrastructure to bring that aluminum back in a closed loop and make sure it doesn't go into landfills.

As we started looking in this space, we wanted to find a company that on a values basis and in terms of growth ambitions lined up with Alcoa. I met John Shegerian at ERI and immediately there was a mix of cultures and a mix of values. We saw a successful entrepreneur who had the ability to grow his business exponentially and we saw that Alcoa could help him do that. 

ERI, the nation's largest recycler of electronic waste, opened a regional recycling center in Badin, NC last year that will create up to 200 jobs. The company began operations in 2011 and will move into a newly renovated and much larger facility at the Badin Business Park this spring.

David Stickler: Clean Tech did its best

The Winston-Salem Journal published a guest column today from David Stickler, a member of Clean Tech's Board of Directors, about why the company was unable to reach an agreement with the Stanly County Commissioners.

"If there had been true interest by Stanly County in finding a path forward, I feel certain that Clean Tech and Alcoa could have mitigated all of the concerns that were raised — even those raised at the 11th hour," Stickler wrote

"But there was one fundamental problem: Every time we mitigated or structured around one concern, the county would simply present another concern that then needed to be addressed."

The entire article is reprinted below:

Clean Tech did its best

By DAVID STICKLER

Now that Clean Tech has abandoned its plans to build a $300 million manufacturing plant and create 450 new jobs in Stanly County, I see that there is already a lot of finger-pointing in the press about why we were unable to reach an agreement with the Stanly County commissioners. Having been directly involved in the process of trying to structure a transaction that met the county's concerns, let me share my perspective.

If there had been true interest by Stanly County in finding a path forward, I feel certain that Clean Tech and Alcoa could have mitigated all of the concerns that were raised — even those raised at the 11th hour.

But there was one fundamental problem: Every time we mitigated or structured around one concern, the county would simply present another concern that then needed to be addressed.

First it was environmental. Then it was jobs. Then it was the number of jobs. Then it was the length of the jobs commitment.

In a final effort to reach an agreement Thursday evening, Clean Tech teamed with Alcoa and committed to creating 750 jobs with a payroll and benefits commitment that started at $30 million a year and increased over time to more than $43 million a year. The commitment would have lasted 50 years.

But even after these commitments were put on the table and the previously identified concerns addressed, the county began raising new obstacles, some of which involved the most unlikely of business scenarios. So I asked the county directly: If we can resolve these latest concerns, will you create a path forward? Unfortunately, the response received led Clean Tech to conclude that there would always be one more challenge to overcome and that the process would never end.

At that point, Clean Tech finally had to say enough is enough. We had tried our best.

Issues surrounding the relicensing of Alcoa's dams were obviously a major sticking point for the county. It is important for everyone to know that Clean Tech never tried to infringe on Stanly County's or North Carolina's legal standing with respect to having a voice at the table regarding permits, 401 certificates or government authorizations. All Clean Tech was looking for was an assurance that the county and the state would allow the regulatory process to move forward in a timely manner so that we could begin the construction and hiring process.

As we prepare to move forward with our plans to locate the Clean Tech plant in another state, I feel terrible for the citizens of Badin and Stanly County who would have benefited from the investment that Clean Tech was trying to make. The support of the citizens for the Clean Tech project was overwhelming. I am sorry that things did not work out differently.

Clean Tech issues press release

Clean Tech distributed the following press release this morning.

Clean Tech abandons plans to develop its $300-million 

manufacturing plant in North Carolina

Clean Tech Silicon and Bar LLC announced today that it was abandoning its plans to invest $300 million and create 450 jobs in Stanly County, NC, in the town of Badin. A December 15 deadline to reach an agreement passed without an agreement being reached with either the Stanly County Commissioners or North Carolina.  

The Stanly County plant was to be located on an industrial site owned by Alcoa and would have created 450 new jobs. Clean Tech would have employed 250 people with an average wage of $55,000 per year and created an additional 200 support jobs with an average wage of $40,000 per year.

Key elements of the proposed Clean Tech agreement included:

• A 30-year commitment to Stanly County in terms of investment, job creation and related payroll. 

• A commitment to forego certain tax breaks available to all scrap metal recycling companies operating in North Carolina and pay full property taxes. 

• A pledge to provide $500,000 a year to educational institutions in Stanly County.

In a last effort to try and reach agreement with Stanly County and North Carolina, Clean Tech teamed with Alcoa and offered to commit to creating a total of 750 jobs with a payroll and benefits commitment that started at $30 million and increased over time to more than $43 million annually.  The jobs and payroll commitment would have lasted for fifty years.

In announcing that it was abandoning its plans to invest in Stanly County, Clean Tech noted that unlike almost every other economic development project recently announced in North Carolina, Clean Tech was not seeking government subsidies, incentives or tax holidays and was instead looking to benefit from a substantial package of incentives Alcoa was providing to support Clean Tech’s investment in the town of Badin at the site of its former aluminum smelter. 

The Alcoa incentive package included a direct investment in Clean Tech, a long-term purchase commitment, and an agreement to significantly lower Clean Tech’s cost of electrical power. 

John Correnti, Clean Tech’s chairman, stated, “I am disappointed that things did not work out differently and that the legal maneuvering related to North Carolina’s and Stanly County’s attempts to take control of Alcoa’s hydroelectric dams finally forced us to move on. We tried our best but in this case other agendas prevailed.”  

Correnti went on to state that “Clean Tech greatly appreciates the enthusiastic support for Clean Tech shown by the good folks of Stanly County and the town of Badin.  They deserved a better outcome.”

Clean Tech expects to announce its new location shortly after the year-end holidays. 

# # #

Who is Clean Tech?

Who is Clean Tech? That's a question that has been on the minds of a lot of folks in Stanly County recently.

The Stanly News & Press recently printed a profile of Clean Tech. Some of the highlights:

• Clean Tech is led by a management team and investor group that has extensive experience building and operating industrial facilities across the United States.  Over the past 30 years, Clean Tech’s management and investment sponsors have helped create more than 10,000 jobs and invested billions of dollars in various projects in support of modernizing industrial America.  
• Clean Tech prides itself on (i) purchasing and installing the very best technology and equipment available, (ii) spending substantial amounts of time and money on employee training, and (iii) creating a compensation system that allows for wages well above the base wage level.  
• Projects include a $1 billion of scrap metal recycling investments in Arkansas; a $350-million “green renewable” investment in Hertford County, NC when Gov. Jim Hunt was leading efforts to create advanced manufacturing jobs; and an $880-million steel mill investment in Mississippi that created 450 jobs with guaranteed average annual wages of $53,000 per year.  (In some years, average annual wages exceeded $90,000.)

Clean Tech wants to make a $300-million industrial investment in Badin, North Carolina that would create 250 direct jobs (average annual wages of $55,000) and 200 indirect jobs (average annual wages of $40,000).  

Alcoa and Jobs

The Salisbury Post published an editorial today supporting our efforts to reach an agreement with Stanly County and bring hundreds of high-paying jobs to Stanly County. We agree that it's time to work together to bring 450 Clean Tech jobs to Stanly County. The other option -- a protracted legal battle and the loss of the Clean Tech jobs -- won't benefit anyone.

Read the editorial below.

Salisbury Post Editorial
Wednesday, September 14

Alcoa and Jobs

Alcoa and Stanly County commissioners still stand on opposite sides of the river when it comes to Alcoa's hydroelectric relicensing efforts, but at least they've been talking to one another. We'll take that as an encouraging sign.

The latest volley in the public relations battle over the relicensing centers on jobs. Alcoa, which is seeking federal approval to continue operating its Yadkin River hydroelectric dams, says securing the license is necessary to recruit new businesses and replace the jobs lost when the Badin smelting operations closed. Standing in the way, however, is Alcoa's inability to get a water quality certificate, which the state has refused to issue, citing mistatements on Alcoa's application. Stanly has sided with the state, which opposes renewal of Alcoa's federal license in hopes of taking over the Yadkin dams and using cheap electricity as its own industrial recruitment tool.

Meanwhile, caught in the middle of this power struggle are Stanly County citizens, who like those elsewhere could desperately use new jobs to help lower a double-digit unemployment rate. Their hopes were raised a few months ago when Alcoa announced that Electronic Recyclers International would move into the site of Alcoa's former smelting plant in Badin, starting with a workforce of 20-30 employees that is expected to reach 200. Now, Alcoa says another company, Clean Tech Silicon and Bar LLC, could bring in several hundred jobs and $300 million in investment. But in return, it apparently wants Stanly to drop its opposition to the water quality certification and relicensing effort. Stanly Commissioner Tony Dennis contends Alcoa is holding the promised jobs "hostage" as a way to put pressure on the county. Which is probably true to the same extent the state is holding the water certification "hostage" to gain leverage against Alcoa.

In reality, both Alcoa and its relicensing opponents have played hard ball at times. But with good jobs on the table, the need to get past the war of words becomes more urgent. The takeover attempt has lost momentum as North Carolina copes with the economic downturn. At this point, it's hard to fathom state or county officials pursuing what would no doubt be a protracted and costly court battle against Alcoa. While the details of negotiations between Stanly and Alcoa haven't been divulged, the fact they've discussed a deal suggests possible movement in this standoff.

With takeover of the dams a distant possibility at best, better to drive a hard bargain with Alcoa and gain jobs and other tangible benefits now than to continue pursuing a costly legal battle that doesn't create employment for anyone other than lawyers and lobbyists.