Stimulus dollars for CFAC

Inter Lake editorial

The Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. is in a jam, but it might not be if federal stimulus funding were put to work in a novel fashion that would actually, measurably 'save or create jobs."

That dubious phrase has been deployed by the Obama administration, even though everyone is fully aware that it is impossible to account for saved jobs on a national basis.

But in the case of CFAC, which is planning to cease operations at the end of July, applying money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act would do just that.

CFAC spokesman Haley Beaudry said last week that if stimulus funding were directed toward subsidizing power prices, CFAC might be able to negotiate a contract with the Bonneville Power Administration that would keep the electricity-hungry aluminum plant in operation.

"This goes far beyond the shovel-ready situation," Beaudry said, referring to the requirement that stimulus funding must be spent on ready-to-go projects. The problem is, that has not been the case so far, for most stimulus money. Only a fraction of the massive $787 billion in stimulus funding has even been obligated so far, and most of those projects won't start until next year.

"This is here right now. There's no two years of construction, no planning, no contracting. None of that stuff is necessary," Beaudry said.

Amen to that.

With a favorable power contract, CFAC - a viable American manufacturing operation that is important to the Flathead Valley's economy - would be kept alive, even if it is temporary. As it stands now, the aluminum plant is operating at only 10 percent of capacity and its 88 workers face a very uncertain future.

If a BPA power subsidy were extended to all of its big customers, who knows how many jobs might be saved.

But at least, by rescuing CFAC, the Obama administration would have a concrete example of saving 88 jobs that were certain to be lost.