May 15, 2007 — The sharpest pain from closure of the General Motors Powertrain plant will be felt in its home community, Massena, an industrial town on the St. Lawrence River. General Motors has been a fixture and a driving economic force there for five decades. Town Supervisor Gary Edwards said his community was reeling, but would recover. Edwards says the first step toward a come-back will be locking up the 15 megawatts of low-cost local hydropower now being used by GM. He told Jonathan Brown that keeping that cheap electricity in the North Country will be a struggle.  Go to full article

May 15, 2007 — Jonathan Brown spent Monday in Massena, talking with the people who will bear the brunt of this news. He spoke with Jim Heidi, a GM retiree, along with Darren Temper, an auto mechanic at Sears, and Cindy Hurlbaugh, who owns a flower shop in Massena, Rob Higgins, a school teacher, Joel Ogner, who works for the New York Power Authority, and Mike Viscovich, who works at a car dealership.  Go to full article

May 14, 2007 — General Motors today confirmed rumors that their drive train manufacturing plant in Massena will be mothballed at the end of 2008. The news represents a devastating blow to the regional economy. Brian Mann spoke mid-day on Monday with GM spokeswoman Sharon Basel.  Go to full article

May 14, 2007 — GM confirmed this morning that General Motors will shutter its Powertrain facility in Massena at the end of 2008. The move came despite efforts by lawmakers to delay the decision. A spokesman for Rep. John McHugh described the development as "disappointing." "This is not good news for the community," said spokesman Matt Lavoie. "The congressman will fight for the people, the town, and the workers in any way he can," he added. Martha Foley spoke with Brian Mann about the last-minute effort by lawmakers to save hundreds of jobs.  Go to full article

Oct 02, 2006 — More than 150 North Country leaders and residents had an urgent message for a state task force Friday in Massena. They said selling cheap power downstate would crush the region's future. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

Sep 21, 2006 — A new assembly plant from one of Detroit's Big Three car companies is getting attention for its "green" qualities. Big Three automakers may not rank at the top of most environmentalists' list for companies of the year. But some say the new auto plant is a sign that environmentally-sensitive manufacturing has finally gone main-stream. It's not just because building green plants is the right thing to do. Really, it comes down to a different kind of green. The Environment Report's Dustin Dwyer has the story.  Go to full article

Feb 13, 2006 — Union leaders from Massena's General Motors plant were at a United Auto Workers conference in Washington last week. While they were there, they lobbied lawmakers for help saving about a third of the plant's production line. As David Sommerstein reports, they're fighting worldwide competition to keep making a part that employs almost 180 people.  Go to full article

Dec 01, 2005 — Akwesasne Mohawks who live on the reservation near Massena filed a class action lawsuit against Alcoa and General Motors Wednesday. The suit alleges toxic chemicals the companies dumped in St. Lawrence River decades ago have caused a myriad of health problems for thousands of people. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

Nov 21, 2005 — The General Motors plant in Massena won't be affected by the company's plans to slash 30,000 jobs in the U.S. and Canada. GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner said this morning the cuts were needed to make the company more competitive. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

Apr 14, 2005 — There's renewed debate over the future of the North Country's share of cheap electricity produced at the hydropower dam in Massena. The local Alcoa and General Motors plants currently use almost 500 megawatts at below market prices. That's more than the amount of electricity all the households in northern New York use. The agreement expires in 2013. Lawmakers want the industrial giants to extend their side of the deal and commit to providing jobs long term. But if Alcoa and General Motors were to close, people worry downstate interests could grab the cheap power. Two North Country lawmakers are writing bills to stop that from happening. But as David Sommerstein reports, they differ over how to do it.  Go to full article