By Associated Press - Friday, April 8, 2016

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) - Time is running short for state lawmakers to find a way to keep 300 people working at an aluminum plant outside Charleston.

And The Post and Courier reports (https://bit.ly/1SUtYAj ) a disagreement over crafting the legislation could be an obstacle.

Legislation was introduced in the Senate Thursday to let Century Aluminum buy all of its electricity on the open market.

Co-sponsor Sen. Larry Grooms sees the bill as a long shot and wanted to give the company job-related tax credits. Century president and CEO Mike Bless says the company opposes taxpayer subsidies on principle.

The bill has only a few weeks to pass. May 1 is the deadline to get Senate-passed bills to the House. About 300 people now work at the smelter, down from 600 employees a year ago.

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