Port of Inola

Inola residents will decide the fate of a massive aluminum smelter in a town-wide vote next spring. Until then, city officials have paused heavy industrial development.

A meeting in Inola Monday will determine whether the town will extend a 60-day moratorium on a proposed aluminum smelter - which is set to expire on Sept. 28. The postponement was approved in June amidst public pushback to the $4 billion project.

Sofidel broke ground on the 1 million square foot addition Thursday. The foreign investment drew praise from Oklahoma leaders despite a recent lawsuit targeting a different Inola project with foreign owners.

The $4 billion project was announced last year and has received support from the Trump administration.

The head of 3Sun, whose parent Enel announced a $1 billion solar plant in Inola, also said the over $218 million incentive package from the state was the final deal-maker.