The Shuttered smelters mean more power reserves for the federally operated Bonneville Power Administration, supplier of nearly half the power consumed in the Northwest and supplier to most of the aluminum companies. The BPA is trying to stave off energy shortages and exponential rate increases expected later this year.

Under the pacts, BPA will pay the smelter operators $20 per megawatt hour for their power, some of which will be used to provide full wages and benefits sufficient to cover employees who would have worked had the smelters not shut down. The BPA also will support development of a wind energy project by an affiliate of Golden Northwest.

"This agreement helps balance supply and demand during the ongoing West Coast energy crisis. It allows BPA to avoid purchasing expensive power and will reduce what otherwise could have been a very large rate increase in October," said Steve Wright, acting administrator of BPA. "It will also help the region avoid power shortages next winter."