It should come as absolutely no surprise that the Winston-Salem Journal believes the state should assume control of Alcoa’s Yadkin River dams:
Alcoa, which plans to appeal the state revocation and is pushing for a renewal of its license, has painted the state’s attempt to control the dams as a government takeover of private business. That’s a vast exaggeration. Alcoa has held a 50-year license to operate the dams, and the renewal of that license is now being considered by the commission. The river belongs to the people of North Carolina, and is protected by the state and federal governments. If the state does prevail over Alcoa in what’s sure to be a hard-fought battle, it should give the company a fair-market value for the dams and related infrastructure.
The Journal somehow thinks the state can be a better steward of the river and make money.
