Associated Press
 
November 17, 2008
 
PORTLAND, Ore. -- The Bonneville Power Administration wants to provide electricity discounts totaling as much as $66 million annually to a smelter in Ferndale, Wash., for the next 20 years.
 
And the owner of the smelter, Alcoa Inc., commits to maintaining 480 jobs at its Intalco Works plant if it gets the power.
 
But Gov. Kulongoski, public utilities and consumer advocates criticize the proposal.
 
Consumers advocates say it shows that BPA favors aluminum industry jobs over those in other industries.
 
Public utilities say they'll end up paying for them in higher rates that would force job cuts among their struggling industrial customers.
 
Meanwhile, Washington's governor and the state's congressional delegation support the proposal.
 
They say it would help maintain jobs without placing a significant burden on the region's other customers.