A year of “stormy protests” has caused Alcoa to scuttle a proposed $1.5 billion aluminum smelter in Trinidad, Reuters reports. New plans to build the plant further south have prompted equally fierce opposition by villagers afraid that pollution and emissions would devastate the local fishing economy.
In Texas, a labor union is feeling the effects of an air pollution lawsuit that has forced Alcoa to decommission and upgrade a power plant there.
Sources:
“Alcoa smelter gets cold shoulder in Trinidad”
Reuters, December 29, 2006
“Alcoa to shut down three units of power plant”
Temple Daily Telegram (TX), December 29, 2006