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LEXINGTON, N.C. -- Alcoa Power Generating Incorporated is working to renew its 50 year license to operate the hydroelectric dams along the Yadkin River. But many leaders from both political parties have come together to block the effort.

On Thursday, state officials, along with local elected representatives, met in Lexington to urge the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to allow the state to take over the operation. Alcoa representatives say the land is privately owned so they own the rights.

But some state leaders disagree.

"You know they invested but it's the people's waters and what we're concerned about is the damage that has been done, the revenue that has come from the use of these dams and there's not anything coming back to North Carolina when this was initially set up it was for the jobs," said Sen. Stan Bingham, (R) Davidson County. "They had indicated it was 1,000 jobs and it started out on the wrong foot. You know the most jobs they had was 400. It never even reached 1,000 jobs. So it's just been a fiasco from the word go."

Alcoa representatives did not attend the meeting. A spokesman for Alcoa told News 14 Carolina they did not feel the meeting would be a balanced view of the effort. The spokesman also said the company has support from 23 community organizations in the relicensing effort.