New bill aims at helping Noranda

JEFFERSON CITY - Senator Peter Kinder of Cape Girardeau has introduced bill to the Missouri Senate in an effort to help Noranda Aluminum's smelting plant in New Madrid.

Noranda employs close to 1,100 people in the Southeast Missouri, making it a major economic player in the region. Also Noranda is the No. 1 user of electricity in Missouri. The second largest energy consumer in the state, Anheuser-Busch, uses nearly one-third the amount of energy Noranda does.

The reason for this is the large amount of energy it takes to smelt aluminum and Noranda is continuously using energy due to its around-the-clock schedule for workers. Company officials have indicated schedule has taken a toll on the local energy provider and is forcing the company to rethink the continued usage of the New Madrid Plant.

Threatening nearly 1,100 jobs in the area, there have been rumors of Noranda having to possibly shutdown at New Madrid.

Senate Bill 555 allows "certain aluminum smelting facilities to contract for the purchase of electric power." They will be able to go outside of the jurisdiction of the Missouri Public Service Commission regarding rates.

This action by Kinder will hopefully give Noranda a much needed energy boost and help alleviate the current electrical burden it is going through.

Senate Bill 555 passed the Missouri Senate easily and will more than likely face little opposition in the House as it was presented to the floor of the Missouri House on Thursday.