HANCOCK CO., KY (WFIE) -
Century Aluminum officials say they may have to close if they're forced to pay higher prices for power.
Hancock County leaders say the impact would be tremendous. Thousands would be negatively affected.
There's been talk that Century Aluminum may have to shutdown soon if the plant can't receive lower power rates from Big Rivers.
"Electrical costs account for 30 to 40 percent of an aluminum smelters operating costs and aluminum prices today are basically at a two year low," said Mike Baker with Industrial Foundation Hancock County.
"You've got both sides going back and forth and saying the other isn't cooperating," said Judge Executive Al Mattingly.
Big Rivers says it isn't walking away from Century, but the deal Century is asking for is too large to accept. If Century shuts down, officials say jobs are up in the air.
"Not only are those 700 jobs at Century on the line. It's everything here in Owensboro. They shop here, they eat here," said Amy Jackson, with the Daviess County Chamber of Commerce.
"About 300 of the employees live in Daviess County," Mattingly stated.
Thousands could be affected.
"You have maintenance companies that come in and maintain the smelters. The trucking companies that bring in. Those are the kinds of ansery jobs that people don't think about," Mattingly said.
Century is one of Big Rivers largest customers.
"Those two smelters take somewhere around 65 percent to 70 percent of the electricity produced by Big Rivers," Baker said.
Big Rivers says rates will go up for residential customers by 37 percent if Century gets the deal it wants, and 19 percent if Big Rivers loses Century as a customer. Either way, public officials are encouraging residents to ask the state to get involved.
"Contact their legislators and ask them to intervene. To get in the mix. See if the state can't help bring these people back to the table," Mattingly said.
Century Aluminum is having a public meeting at Hawesville City Hall at 6:00 p.m. Thursday night to answer questions.
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