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Clean Energy Critical for Affordability & Clean Air in New Madrid
NEW MADRID, MO — The idled Magnitude 7 Metals aluminum smelter near New Madrid, formerly owned and operated by Noranda, announced its intent to restart production by the end of the year. Not mentioned in the release today is how the smelter will be powered, and whether the smelter will be in compliance with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources plan to reduce sulfur dioxide pollution to levels that are safe to breathe. New Madrid County recorded the worst air quality in the United States before idling, according to 2019 EPA data.
The cost of electricity is a major input and longstanding barrier to domestic aluminum production, and the fluctuating cost of coal can quickly impact the financial viability of energy-hungry smelters. Renewable energy and energy storage offer affordable, fixed-price energy options that do not release emissions in an area that’s failed to reduce sulfur dioxide pollution down to allowable levels.
Statement from Jenn DeRose, Sierra Club Beyond Coal Campaign Strategist in Missouri:
