Demolition of last Northwest aluminum smelter signals end of an industrial era
Aluminum maker Alcoa has started to demolish its sprawling Intalco smelter west of Ferndale. The multiyear demolition and cleanup project snuffs out any lingering hopes of reviving aluminum production in Washington and bringing back the hundreds of union jobs that disappeared when the smelter shut down in 2020.
The demolition also represents the curtain coming down on an industrial era in the Pacific Northwest. The Alcoa Intalco smelter was the last one standing of what were once 10 thrumming, energy-gobbling aluminum factories spread across the region.
Alcoa made no public announcement when it began the Intalco smelter demolition sometime last year. A company spokesperson confirmed the teardown is now well underway when queried this past week by Salish Current.
“We’re approximately 45% complete at this time,” the spokesperson said via email.
https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/03/06/demolition-of-last-northwest-aluminum-smelter-signals-end-of-an-industrial-era/
It used to be one of the major employers in Ferndale.