The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced Century Aluminum is set to receive $500 million from the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED). With this award, the company will build the nation’s first clean smelter, attempting to double U.S. primary aluminum production and lower typical smelter emissions by 75%.  

Century Aluminum was selected for the OCED program in March 2024 and could potentially build the facility in Kentucky. This comes after their Hawesville, KY facility idled in 2022 and amidst a general decline in U.S. primary aluminum production over the last two decades.  

The new smelter is expected to create more than 5,500 construction jobs and more than 1,000 full-time union jobs once Century Aluminum breaks ground. 

Following the announcement, the BlueGreen Alliance issued a statement from Executive Director Jason Walsh:  

“Century Aluminum’s clean smelter is a beacon of hope for workers and families who have felt the devastating impact of job losses in the aluminum industry. This project will not only revitalize communities with good, union jobs but it will also breathe life into local economies. By combining innovation with economic opportunity, Century Aluminum is proving that we can invest in a cleaner future while providing access to a middle-class life for thousands of hardworking people.”