Intalco Aluminum commits $5.25 million to enhance environmental safety & compliance at Ferndale

Intalco Aluminum LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Alcoa Corporation, the operator of the closed aluminium smelter in Ferndale, has agreed to a $5.25 million settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This settlement addresses violations of the Clean Air Act identified during a 2019 EPA inspection.

Operations at the site began in 1966, and in 1984, the smelter shipped a record 286,000 tonnes of aluminium, a strong, durable, and lightweight metal essential for manufacturing aircraft and consumer goods such as refrigerators, air conditioners, and cooking utensils.

According to Mark Personius, the director of Whatcom County Planning and Development, Intalco has submitted an application for a permit to demolish its former smelter site at Intalco Works. Personius informed the County Council on Tuesday that the demolition permit will require a review under the State Environmental Policy Act, which could take two to three years.

Alcoa's venture to green hydrogen plant

Earlier in February, Alcoa Corporation announced the sale of its closed Intalco Works aluminium smelter to Canadian energy company AltaGas Ltd., stirring interest and speculation about the future of the extensive complex near Ferndale. Calgary-based AltaGas Ltd. is exploring a comprehensive redevelopment of the site to produce "green" hydrogen, a fuel the government is keen to subsidise for clean energy initiatives.

The company plans to establish a 100 tonnes per-day hydrogen production plant, a significant advancement in the green hydrogen sector. Although still in the early stages, AltaGas points to the availability of renewable power, industrial zoning, and existing infrastructure as promising factors for the project's success.