ARIZONA
Freeport-McMoRan lowers its production estimates
Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. lowered its first-quarter production estimates after violence among workers halted operations at its Indonesian mine for more than two weeks.
The Phoenix-based mining company, which also has operations in Morenci and other Arizona locations, said that it has begun the process to restart the Grasberg mine in eastern Indonesia but that full production isn't expected to occur until the second quarter.
Freeport-McMoRan predicted its consolidated first-quarter sales volume would total 795 million pounds of copper and 300,000 ounces of gold.
That compared with January's estimate of consolidated first-quarter sales volumes of 875 million pounds of copper and 425,000 ounces of gold.
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The estimates depend on several factors, including the restart process at Grasberg. Freeport-McMoRan said it will update annual sales estimates when it reports first-quarter results.
The Associated Press
Eloy farm that employed illegal immigrants is fined
An Eloy farming company and one of its officers have been ordered to pay a $21,000 fine for knowingly employing illegal immigrants.
Federal prosecutors said Thursday that a U.S. magistrate also sentenced Falfa Farms 95 officer Brian Layton to two years' probation.
Authorities say Layton learned in late 2006 that seven of Falfa Farms' employees were Mexican citizens who lacked authorization to work or reside in the United States.
Under federal law, an employer must terminate an employee after making such a discovery.
Prosecutors say Falfa Farms later submitted work-authorization applications to the Department of Labor and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services on behalf of all seven employees. They say Falfa Farms falsely certified that each of the seven wasn't a current employee and was living in Mexico.
The Associated Press
Striking bus drivers approve new contract
PHOENIX - More than 600 striking Phoenix bus drivers overwhelming approved a new contract Thursday night and will be back at work this morning.
Another 310 striking Tempe drivers are set to vote on their new contract today in hope of getting back behind the wheel Saturday.
The drivers represented by Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1433 went on strike against bus operator Veolia Transportation Services last Saturday.
The strike crippled bus service in metropolitan Phoenix, leaving many workers and students stranded or struggling to find other transportation.
The Associated Press
TUCSON
Construction to start soon on big TEP solar project
Construction on a massive 26-megawatt solar-energy project for Tucson Electric Power Co. is expected to begin this month after Tempe-based First Solar was chosen to build the solar farm.
Project owner NRG Energy and First Solar announced an agreement to build the project, which will supply power to TEP under a 20-year power-purchase agreement.
The 300-acre project on fallow farmland in the Avra Valley will use First Solar's advanced thin-film photovoltaic technology. The PV panels will be mounted on the company's single-axis tracker system, which rotates the solar modules to follow the sun throughout the day.
Construction on the project, which is expected to be completed by year's end, will create an estimated 200 jobs, First Solar said.
Separately, California-based SunEdison (formerly Fotowatio Renewable Ventures) is building a 25-megawatt photovoltaic array in the Avra Valley area.
Arizona Daily Star