Clean aluminum

A cleaner solution to America’s aluminum crunch is hiding in landfills

Advanced sorting technologies and stronger state recycling policies can help recover more scrap metal to meet U.S. aluminum demand, experts say.

By Maria Gallucci . 19 October 2026

Close up of cans in a clear bag, with lots of other bags stacked in the background — Aluminum cans are bagged for recycling at the Sure We Can redemption center in Brooklyn, New York. (Maria Gallucci/Canary Media)

Clean aluminum

US aluminum is poised for a comeback — if it overcomes these hurdles

Tariffs and rising grid demand are spurring a revival, but high electricity costs and community concerns threaten to stall key new smelter projects

By Maria Gallucci . 13 August 2026
Clean aluminum

Energy-hungry aluminum plant is swept up in Oklahoma governor’s race

The state’s Republican attorney general — a gubernatorial candidate — sued to stop the new Trump-backed smelter, which would double America’s aluminum output.

By Maria Gallucci . 10 June 2026
Clean aluminum

America’s big new aluminum smelter is still waiting on a power deal

Global supply shocks spurred by the Iran war are bolstering the case for domestic production. But the plant still hasn’t secured its electricity supply.

By Maria Gallucci . 30 April 2026
Clean aluminum

China could be on the cusp of a green aluminum boom

As demand for the metal soars, the country is pursuing policies that will spur more smelters to run on clean electricity.

By Alexander C. Kaufman . 4 March 2026
Clean aluminum

Loss of green smelter highlights Kentucky’s need for clean electricity

Century Aluminum chose Oklahoma, not Kentucky, for a new smelter. Some say it’s a "wake-up call" for the Bluegrass State to modernize – and decarbonize – its grid.

By Maria Gallucci . 10 February 2026
Clean aluminum

It takes two aluminum firms to build one power-hungry smelter, apparently

Century Aluminum was eyeing Kentucky for a new smelter, but in a surprise move says it’s teaming up with Emirates Global Aluminium to build one in Oklahoma.

By Maria Gallucci . 26 January 2026
Clean industry

Europe’s world-first carbon tariff is coming. Here’s what to know.

The EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism is part of a broader effort to decarbonize heavy industries in Europe and globally. It takes full effect Jan. 1.

By Maria Gallucci . 10 December 2025
Clean aluminum

Aluminum giants hit major milestone with low-carbon production

Elysis, a joint venture of Alcoa and Rio Tinto, announced a breakthrough in scaling its carbon-free “inert anode” technology to clean up smelters.

By Maria Gallucci . 25 November 2025
Clean aluminum

Sortera raises $45M for recycling tech as US demands low-carbon aluminum

The Indiana startup, which uses AI to extract high-value aluminum from scrap piles, just announced fresh funding and plans for a second plant in Tennessee.

By Maria Gallucci . 20 November 2025
Clean aluminum

Can Australia power its big aluminum smelters with clean energy?

The country is launching subsidies for smelters that use wind and solar power to produce the metal. It’s part of early global efforts to decarbonize heavy industry.

By Maria Gallucci . 12 November 2025