western issues 8 10 01 following update already forwarded tim belden please let know questions thanks kristin walsh x 39510 aluminum smelters dsi kaiser aluminum kaiser aluminum begun recall 40 50 workers mead smelter washington beginning process getting operations back productive capacity await load reduction negotiations bpa perhaps using recall posturing tactic threaten restart kaiser wants bpa give 17 per megawatt hour shut operations two years beginning october competitors paid 18 20 seems unlikely bpa budge spot electricity prices reached reasonable levels 50 mwh range make long story short kaiser botched chance great deal lining troops threaten bpa signing alcoa aluminum alcoa still talks bc hydro regards restarting intalco smelter operations consequently bottom line bpa load reduction agreement priced 18 20 per mwh rough estimate 30 per mwh break even point electricity prices alcoa could go bc hydro much aggressive bid electricity current market prices floating near 50 per mwh 20 mwh load reduction payment bpa next two years real possibility alcoa could profitably restart operations prices break lower find stable price contacts close bc hydro aggressively pursuing inside track negotiations particularly hydro side things aiming find potential restart date report available bc hydro bc government bc government allowed gain intervener status discussions regarding sumas 2 power plant sitting northern washington state near canadian border border dispute going last 18 months canucks citing air pollution major public health hazard coming site close canadian cities bc government allowed sit sitting negotiations provide input large step forward bc ndp stripped power offshore drilling front direct legislation week although believed greens remnants ndp environmentalists ropes issue sources indicate labor environmentalist split took house democrats anwr vote washington last week likely mirror offshore drilling forestry debates british columbia many labor groups allied corporate interests past likely issue oil royalties jobs stake northern british columbia bc hydro real movement week bc hydro front awaiting selection new chair board upcoming mid september bonneville power authority financial solvency senator patty murray stated go mat anwr debate room equivocation front whether opening salvo meant deterrence smokescreen remains seen although reliable source suggests willing change position exchange increased bpa funding sources indicate bill senate increase bpa funding 2 billion total 5 75 billion provision annual reports senate opposed gop leadership senate white house likely murray would scrap bill altogether unless viable alternative emerges ferc oversight remains question whether chairman hebert resignation ferc play role murray decision making understanding upon hebert resignation vacancy open ferc restrictions partisanship since commission two democrats two republicans opening creates opportunity individuals initially passed white house another shot becoming ferc commissioner entertaining two scenarios white house looks use ferc vacancy gain influence anwr vote labor influence strong enough swing victory white house confident anwr victory appoint republican position likely contender short list someone passed recently favor woods spill issues additional spill issues brought week expecting anything substantive end august come area dam issues pacificorp yakama indian nation signed preliminary agreement file joint competing license application ferc priest rapids hydro project operated grant county pud representatives utility tribe indicate goal broadly share benefits two dam 1900 mw project region grant county pud holds existing license uses 37 percent output rest contract 12 public private utilities region four ious receiving example growing influence tribal nations water issues pacific northwest unlikely say least tribal nations take control bpa operated dams increasingly become energy players region forest fires chelan blaze controlled major forest fires warrant disruption electrical transmissions