Alcoa introduces Yadkin OspreyCam
Alcoa launched a new webcam today that provides a live feed of three osprey chicks recently hatched in a nest atop the Narrows Dam. The Yadkin OspreyCam can be seen at www.alcoa.com/ospreycam.
Badin Lake Remediation Project Is Complete
APGI has successfully completed the installation of a cap over sediments in Badin Lake. Water levels, which dropped 15-20 feet, have returned to normal and the Badin Boat Ramp has re-opened.
To learn more about the project, visit the Alcoa Badin Works website. Lake level data is available on the website.
Controlling Hydrilla on the Yadkin Project Lakes
Alcoa is cooperating with North Carolina’s Aquatic Weed Control Program to control the growth of hydrilla, an invasive aquatic weed, on the Yadkin Project lakes. After hydrilla was observed growing in Badin and Tuckertown lakes, Alcoa asked for assistance from the Aquatic Weed Control Program to implement control measures to reduce the areas of infestation and prevent widespread growth. Read more
Public records provide inside look at opposition to Yadkin Project relicensing
Alcoa Power Generating Inc. has launched a website, TheYadkinFacts.com, that makes public records related to the relicensing of the Yadkin Hydroelectric Project available online. Visit the site.
Alcoa Investments Improving Water Quality at Yadkin Project
Water quality at the Yadkin Project has improved dramatically since Alcoa Power Generating (APGI) invested more than $5 million in turbine upgrades and other enhancements specifically designed to increase the amount of oxygen in the water.
Read the story and the report
Alcoa's "Smog-Eating" Technology to Bolster Sustainability at New Electronics Recycling Hub in North Carolina
Reynobond® with EcoClean™ Installed at New Electronic Recyclers International Facility in Badin, N.C.
Alcoa has unveiled one of the first commercial building installations of Reynobond® with EcoClean™, the architectural panel that cleans itself and the air around it, at the new Electronic Recyclers International (ERI) facility in Badin, N.C. The product is installed at ERI's Southeast regional electronics recycling hub, which is expected to create up to 200 new jobs in central North Carolina. Read more
Play It Safe on the Lakes
Boaters who take to the water during the fall and winters months face a different set of risks when it comes to water safety. There are fewer boats and law enforcement officers on the water to provide assistance in the event of an emergency, and heavier clothes and colder temperatures can make it much more difficult to swim to safety if you fall in the water without a life jacket. Learn about water safety
Nearly 100 years ago, Alcoa invested millions to build a hydropower business along the Yadkin River in central North Carolina. In the process, Alcoa created a series of four lakes, including High Rock Lake and Badin Lake, which provide numerous recreation opportunities and serve as an important economic engine for the entire region.
Today, Alcoa Power Generating Inc. generates clean and renewable energy under a license from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). APGI has been working with the State of North Carolina and other interested parties for more than five years to discuss the future management of the Yadkin Project. This effort is part of an ongoing effort to obtain a new federal license to generate hydropower.
Homeowners, Environmental Interest Groups and State Agencies Support a New License for the Yadkin Project
Alcoa has reached a Relicensing Settlement Agreement that strikes a balance between many competing interests in the Yadkin River. The agreement will improve water quality, preserve land, protect habitat and improve recreational opportunities along the Yadkin River. Click here for a complete list of benefits associated with a new license.
Click here for a complete list of benefits associated with a new license.
Granting a new license to Alcoa is supported by 23 organizations, including state agencies specializing in water issues (the N.C. Division of Water Resources and the N.C. Division of Water Quality); one of the Yadkin River’s largest water users (City of Albemarle); leading environmental interest groups such as American Rivers and The Nature Conservancy; and other groups representing North Carolina homeowners, recreational users and business interests. Click here for a complete list of supporters.
Click here for a complete list of supporters.
Protecting North Carolina’s Water Interests
Some opponents of Alcoa have argued that North Carolina should oppose a new license to protect its water rights along the Yadkin River. The fact is, the federal government, controls water rights — not Alcoa — and it is responsible for approving water withdrawals, inter-basin transfers and affecting other important water issues that might interest North Carolina in the future.
Alcoa has worked closely with the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources to ensure that North Carolina’s water interests are well represented and strongly supported in the relicensing agreement. For example, the relicensing agreement allows for new or increased water withdrawals by local municipalities, giving North Carolina access to water for growth during the next 50 years.
What A Government Takeover of the Yadkin Project Will Cost Taxpayers of North Carolina
There has been a lot of debate about what a government takeover of the Yadkin Project might cost North Carolina taxpayers. Since a federal takeover has ever been done before, the uncertainty about how much it would cost is understandable. Here is Alcoa’s view:
If the State of North Carolina is determined to take Alcoa’s privately-owned business along the Yadkin River, it will have to pay the company a fair price for its property.
The deadline to pursue a federal takeover of the Yadkin Project expired nearly three years ago. Therefore, there are only two ways for the State of North Carolina to acquire Alcoa’s property: to purchase it directly from the company, or to condemn it. Since Alcoa does not want to sell the Yadkin Project, condemnation is the only remaining option.
When the State of North Carolina condemns property, it must pay fair market value – and the fair market value for the Yadkin Project has been calculated at more than $500 million using standard valuation methodologies.
Click here to learn more.
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