How Oklahoma Landed America’s First Aluminum Smelter in Half a Century. Aluminum makers EGA, Century plan to break ground later this year on facility that would more than double U.S. smelting capacity
https://www.wsj.com/business/how-oklahoma-landed-americas-first-aluminum-smelter-in-half-a-century-e00c83d3
8 points · 4 comments · view on lemmy.world 
4 Comments
reddig33@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 129d
Where will they be getting the electricity for this? Aluminum smelting is traditionally done near hydropower or geothermal sources.
partial_accumen@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 129d
I was wondering the same thing. I'm wondering if all that exceed power from Texas wind might be put to use on this smelter.
RegularJoe@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 129d
Press release from the company says "negotiations with Public Service Company of Oklahoma and the state of Oklahoma on a competitive long-term power supply are progressing."
https://centuryaluminum.com/investors/press-releases/press-release-details/2026/Century-Aluminum-Joins-EGA-Project-to-Build-First-U-S--Smelter-in-Almost-50-Years/default.aspx
reddig33@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 129d
“Natural gas currently provides a significant portion of our energy mix as well and will continue to be an increasingly important fuel source for power generation.”
https://www.psoklahoma.com/clean-energy/
I foresee much higher electricity prices for homeowners in Oklahoma. At least it’s not an AI data center. 🤷♂️
I welcome onshoring of important industries like aluminum production. I just don’t understand why it’s being placed in Oklahoma where the electricity will not cheaply/easily meet its demand. Perhaps they are considering building a nuclear power plant? Or a hydroelectric dam nearby?