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Assemblywoman Russell wants Alcoa to reconsider plan to close Massena West plant

Posted 11/4/15

Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell, D-Theresa, is urging Alcoa to reconsider its decision to curtail smelting at its Massena West plant. At the same time she is urging her fellow lawmakers at state and …

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Assemblywoman Russell wants Alcoa to reconsider plan to close Massena West plant

Posted

Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell, D-Theresa, is urging Alcoa to reconsider its decision to curtail smelting at its Massena West plant.

At the same time she is urging her fellow lawmakers at state and federal levels to commit to long-term planning to improve infrastructure in the state to keep it economically competitive and support economic development in Massena and the North Country.

The statement from Russell’s office comes a day after Alcoa announced Monday afternoon it will idle the Massena West smelter, meaning 487 people will lose their jobs, according to Alcoa.

Nor will the company modernize its closed east plant as it had promised to do. The casthouses, forgings and extrusions facilities at Massena's west plant will remain open, according to the company.

“Given the turbulent global economy which drove this decision, it is imperative that we focus on what can be done to mitigate the economic devastation and retain the ability for future smelting operations in Massena,” Russell said.

Assemblywoman Russell’s 116th Assembly District, which includes Massena, extends in St. Lawrence County to the towns along the St. Lawrence River and down to Canton, Potsdam, Rossie, Macomb and DePeyster.

In its announcement, Alcoa cited dropping prices for aluminum as a factor in its decision to cut back.

The legislator said she will introduce a bill to protect the power allocation granted to ALCOA for its Massena operations to provide time for the demand for primary metals to rebound in world markets. “In the interim, my legislation will call for the value of the power not currently being utilized by ALCOA to be invested in the North Country - particularly to benefit those impacted by job loss,” Russell said.

“The key to the long term viability of smelting in Massena is an improved economic environment more broadly,” added Russell. “The time is long overdue for New York to make long-term, multi-year investments in infrastructure to stabilize our economy and support sustainable growth. Responsible development will provide the basis for business investment in equipment and materials, generating demand for manufactured goods. It is within the state’s financial ability and best interests to partner with businesses and communities to address our infrastructure needs: from energy transmission upgrades to relieving congestion on choked roads, from repairing crumbling bridges to ensuring basic services, like water and sewer systems, are able to meet demands.”

Russell is calling for leaders at the federal level to provide support for infrastructure investment and to promote the long-term, strategic decision making that has been absent under sequestration.

“Businesses and workers benefit from construction projects that provide cash flow to companies and paychecks to workers who reinvest their profits and earnings into purchases that will drive the rest of the economy forward,” Russell said. “Funding the basic infrastructure needs will be a win-win by creating mid-term jobs and long-term operational efficiency that will help to ensure businesses are profitable and able to engage in further development and expansion”

With recent political change in Canada, the U.S.’s largest trading partner, Russell sees an opportunity to invest more heavily in transportation linkages across the border. “This presents a new opportunity to improve transportation linkages by aligning projects in Canada and New York so we can retain our long-standing manufacturing sectors and recruit complimentary ventures which strengthen their position in the global market.”