FOWLER -- A zinc mine in St. Lawrence County that has been closed since 2008 has been allocated electric power at a reduced cost in anticipation of the mine’s sale and restart of operations next year.

The New York Power Authority (NYPA) board of trustees approved Tuesday a four-megawatt (MW) hydropower allocation to facilitate the reopening of the mine in Balmat, in the Town of Fowler.

The planned reopening is part of a more than $33 million capital project by St. Lawrence Zinc Company that NYPA says will lead to 100 new jobs at the site in addition to the retention of eight current positions.

Negotiations are underway for the company’s acquisition by Northern Zinc, a newly formed firm, according to the NYPA announcement.

The four-MW allocation is from the Preservation Power Program, which allots low-cost hydropower from NYPA’s St. Lawrence-FDR Power Project to support businesses in the region in return for capital investments and jobs.

Northern Zinc is in advanced negotiations to acquire the mine and all of the existing operations, which have been closed since 2008. The mine is expected to be in full operation by the end of 2015, according to the news release on the allocation from NYPA.

Judge Eugene L. Nicandri, a NYPA trustee and resident of Massena, said, “As a long-time resident of northern New York, I have witnessed first-hand how St. Lawrence power allocations act as a catalyst for local businesses’ expansion. Low-cost power spurs capital investments and jobs. It also beneficially affects enterprises that do business with the power recipients so these allocations contribute substantially to the region’s economy.”

Officials in the neighboring Town of Gouverneur expressed pleasure at the prospect of more jobs for community members.

“This project is the result of a great deal of collaboration by many individuals who have successfully brought together the necessary resources to reopen the mine” Gouverneur Mayor Ron McDougall said. “I appreciate the efforts of Governor Cuomo, the New York Power Authority, St. Lawrence Zinc and the local economic development officials who have worked together to bring back 100 jobs to the region in 2015.”

“This is great news for our community,” Gouverneur Town Supervisor Bob Ritchie said. “We need companies like St. Lawrence Zinc to make investments and put people to work. When they were in operation it had a huge impact on our community. These are the types of jobs we want to have.”

“Not only will breathing new life into St. Lawrence Zinc create new employment opportunities, it will also help to generate a ripple effect that will attract other businesses to our region, pump money into our local communities and have a positive impact on the North Country’s economy as a whole,” said State Senator Patty Ritchie (R-Heuvelton) whose district includes the mine site.

“The decision to reopen the St. Lawrence Zinc mine is excellent news. I am thrilled St. Lawrence Zinc will again be open and providing jobs for 100 North Country residents,” Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R-Black River) said. Fowler is part of his district.

Under state law, allocations of Preservation Power to Northern New York businesses are for firms in Franklin, Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties. The electricity is provided at a price that is 40 percent less than the wholesale market price in the region and supports hundreds of jobs in St. Lawrence County.

Alcoa in Massena, Upstate Niagara Cooperative in North Lawrence, Florelle Tissue Corporation in Brownville, and Corning, Inc., in Canton are the other recipients of Preservation Power.