By FOX23.com News Staff
INOLA, Okla. — A controversial $4 billion aluminum smelter planned for Inola will now depend on a vote of the people.
Inola voters will have their say on the project in April of next year. Inola town trustees also voted to extend a moratorium on primary aluminum smelting until April.
They made those decisions Monday night at a packed town meeting in the Inola High School gym.
People in favor of the smelter said it could bring jobs and be an economic boom for the town and surrounding communities. The project is backed by President Donald Trump and Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt.
They both see the proposed smelter as a major national security and economic priority. People who are against it said they’re worried that the smelter could negatively impact the environment, farming, and other agricultural businesses.
One man who’s against the smelter said a lot of people put in a lot of work to get to Monday’s decision.
“I can breathe and sleep for maybe a night. The coalition and between the grand jury petitions and all the meetings we’ve needed to attend, between getting it out on the news, between hitting the ground with the Inola petition, I meant we’ve had to put in a lot of work and a lot of fights and a lot of sleepless nights,” said Casey Jones, and Inola native against the smelter. “My poor wife has put up with it, so I’m more thankful to look at her and say, ‘hey, we can take a breath for a little bit.’”
The moratorium on primary aluminum smelting is now in place through April 7, 2027.
Oklahoma Primary Aluminum sent the following statement in response to Monday night’s decision:
“We are disappointed by the town council’s decision. Extending the moratorium and retroactively changing approved zoning and established property rights after millions of dollars have been invested under valid authorizations is not permitted under Oklahoma law or the United States Constitution.
“Additionally, placing a proposed ban on aluminum production on the ballot for a public vote is premature while the courts consider unresolved questions regarding signatures, misleading language and the petition’s legality. Moving forward with a vote before the appeals process undermines basic due process and exposes Inola taxpayers to significant financial and legal risk. We intend to pursue these issues through the courts and continue to move forward with this important project.
“The facility should be evaluated through the established regulatory process, allowing the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to fully review the project and make determinations based on science, evidence and applicable environmental standards.”
Tulsa Ports shared the following statement in response to Monday night’s decision:
“The mission of Tulsa Ports is to drive economic growth for Oklahoma by attracting new businesses through our industrial parks and waterway assets. As stewards of land, we have a responsibility to preserve our ability to develop these sites in ways that support new opportunities for future generations. For years, Tulsa Ports has planned and proactively invested in the development of the Tulsa Port of Inola in reliance on existing zoning and land-use designations. Actions that create uncertainty around established development rights can not only hinder our ability to carry out our mission and affect investments and plans already made for the property but will degrade the image of Oklahoma as a State that is open for new investment.
“Tulsa Ports has a long record of sustainable industrial development. We believe projects of this scale should be evaluated through the established regulatory processes by the engineers, environmental professionals, and agencies responsible for determining whether they can be developed and operated safely. We respect the perspectives of community members and remain committed to responsible development and protecting the long-term economic opportunities the Port of Inola would create for the community, the Tulsa region, and Oklahoma.
“We are disappointed that the Council has chosen to extend the moratorium and prolong uncertainty surrounding development that has advanced in reliance on existing zoning and lawful approvals. Tulsa Ports will continue to protect its property rights, prior investments, and ability to fulfill its public mission while allowing the appropriate regulatory agencies to evaluate the project on its merits.”
