A $4 billion aluminum smelter proposed for Inola, Oklahoma, cleared a political hurdle when Republican voters nominated former state Senator Mike Mazzei, who supports its construction, after a close primary runoff. The project now faces strong local opposition, a state-court lawsuit and a referendum after the Inola City Council unanimously extended its permit moratorium through April 2027. Emirates Global Aluminium and Century Aluminum plan a facility producing 750,000 metric tons of aluminum annually, potentially making it the Western Hemisphere’s largest source of the metal and the first aluminum smelter built in the United States since 1980. The project is intended to address U.S. reliance on imports, which account for roughly 60% of primary aluminum consumption. Gentner Drummond, the state’s attorney general and Mazzei’s Republican primary opponent, filed a lawsuit seeking to block the project over environmental concerns. A federal judge kept the case in state court after the companies sought to move it, despite U.S. Justice Department support for the project. The companies oppose holding a referendum before the litigation and appeals process is complete, while local officials continue to challenge the development’s location and oversight.