WASHINGTON, D.C. - United States Congressman Jason Smith (R-Mo.) Friday fired a letter to Missouri Public Service Commission Chairman Robert S. Kenney urging a rehearing by state regulators for Noranda Aluminum in its feud with power provider Ameren Missouri. The aluminum smelter offers employment to approximately 900 southeast Missouri workers. Up to 200 employees from its administration to labor sectors might be laid off during the next six months if a competitive power rate is not secured by Noranda, said President and Chief Executive Officer Layle K. "Kip" Smith. In addition, the plant might be forced to scale back its $45 million investment in a rod mill and seek locations in neighboring states to continue the project, Smith said. Smith
- Sep 26,
Noranda President and CEO Layle K. "Kip" Smith is flanked by elected officials and dignitaries at a press conference in this August, 2014, photo at the New Madrid smelter. SEMO TIMES photo by Steve Hankins NEW MADRID - In the wake of a recent announcement by the region's leading employer that could leave as many as 200 Bootheel workers jobless, a state panel might rethink its stance regarding energy costs to the plant. Layle K. "Kip" Smith, president and chief executive officer of Noranda Aluminum Holding Corp., said the decision by Missouri's Public Services Commission (PSC) regarding a competitive energy rate is to blame for the impending lay off of between 125 and 200 workers during the next six
Sep 22,JEFFERSON CITY – State Sen. Doug Libla, R-Poplar Bluff, strongly supports today’s filing by the Office of Public Counsel (OPC) to the Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) for an affordable electric rate for Noranda. The PSC denied their initial request last month, leading to Noranda starting the process of reducing their workforce at the New Madrid aluminum plant by up to 200 jobs over the next six months. “For Noranda to compete in these economic conditions, the PSC must grant this rehearing and approve the consumer-friendly OPC compromise. Without the leadership of the PSC, these 900 family sustaining jobs could be lost and the economy of the Bootheel could be permanently damaged,” stated Sen. Libla. “The viability of Noranda’s plant
Sep 12,[Publisher's note: this article will also appear in Thursday's newspaper.] UPDATE: The legislature voted at 11:55pm on Wednesday night; the Governor’s veto stands. Jefferson City is a strange place these days. Literally, things can turn upside down overnight. That's been the case with House Bill 1326 and Senate Bill 506. The bills, deemed the Mo Farm Bills, are supported by both the Missouri Cattle Producers and Missouri's Dairy Cattle industry. They were designed to strengthen Missouri's agricultural industry, which pretty much everyone agreed was a good thing. Just over two months ago these bills were also heavily supported in the state capitol. At the time of passage, the Missouri Cattlemen's Association's (MCA) wrote, “The MCA strongly supports the bipartisan 105
Sep 11,New Madrid, Mo. - Officials who represent the region's largest employer today announced layoffs that will affect 125 to 200 area workers. Noranda President and Chief Executive Officer Layle K. "Kip" Smith said job cuts are related directly to a decision by the Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) to deny competitive power rates to the New Madrid smelter. Layoffs are expected to come in phases during the next six months, Smith told a crowd of employees, dignitaries and press. Those cuts will reach across all sectors of the company's staff, including both administrative and plant personnel, he said. In addition to eliminating jobs, Smith said the company will suspend a $30 million capacity expansion project at the plant. "Unfortunately, this
Sep 02,