Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. to shut down plant

The plant was limping along. Now it will apparently shut down again. The Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. will close at the end of July.

The plant was running at just one-third of a potline thanks to a stop-gap measure where the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) provided cheaper power to the plant through the company's second quarter.

A new power deal hasn't been negotiated, confirmed Nanine Alexander of the BPA.

CFAC apparently told workers of the shutdown last Friday. The move will impact about 90 workers.

CFAC spokesperson Haley Beaudry could not be immediately reached for comment, but the price of power, the cost of raw materials and lower prices for aluminum all play into CFAC's future.

This isn't the first time the plant has shut down. It ceased operation in 2001 when power prices skyrocketed and it hasn't run at full capacity since.