Natgas, Transportation Drive Northeast's 2017 Project Kickoffs

Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--More calls for transportation-related infrastructure and natural gas-fired power generation are driving much of the U.S. Northeast region's planned project kickoffs for the coming year. Industrial Info is tracking $39.32 billion in active projects set to begin construction in the U.S. Northeast in 2017. More than 80% of the total can be attributed to just four industries: Industrial Manufacturing, Power, Oil & Gas Pipelines, and Chemical Processing.

Click on the image at right for a graph detailing active projects scheduled to kick off in 2017 in the U.S. Northeast region, by industry.

The Northeast region includes Delaware, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.

Almost all of the Industrial Manufacturing Industry's $12.63 billion in projected 2017 kickoffs are attributed to transportation-related projects, the three largest of which are in New York City: the $2.8 billion redevelopment of Terminal A at Newark Liberty International Airport, the $4.7 billion redevelopment of Terminal B at LaGuardia Airport, and the $3.02 billion renovation of the 8th Avenue subway line. The Newark Liberty project is expected to add a 1 million-square-foot building, 33 terminal gates and a 3,000-space garage, while the Newark Liberty project is expected to add a 1.3 million-square-foot building and 38 terminal gates. The subway renovation is expected to replace damaged and worn-out components, including field cables, and improve the drainage system.

However, transportation-related projects such as these require extensive permitting and review; Terminal B and the subway line still are in their early planning phases, where plenty of factors could increase, decrease or eliminate the expected spending. For more details, including current schedules and contractor contact information, see Industrial Info's project reports on Newark Liberty's Terminal A, LaGuardia's Terminal B and the subway renovation.

The growing demand for natural gas-fired power generation is driving almost all of the $11.93 billion in Power Industry projects set to begin construction in the Northeast in 2017, with Pennsylvania hosting the construction of two combined-cycle power plants: the $1.03 billion Hill Top Energy Center in Nemacolin and the $1 billion Fairview Energy Center in Johnstown. The Hill Top project is designed to generate 536 megawatts (MW) from combustion and steam turbines provided by General Electric (NYSE:GE), while the Fairview project is designed to generate 980 MW from two combustion and one steam turbines from GE. For more information, see Industrial Info's project reports on the Hill Top and Fairview facilities.

The Oil & Gas Pipeline Industry's $4.25 billion in planned kickoffs includes Williams Partners LP's (NYSE:WPZ) (Tulsa, Oklahoma) $283 million Central Penn Line South segment of the Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline Expansion in Pennsylvania. The 122-mile stretch of the line will transport up to 1.7 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas from Columbia County to Lancaster County. Williams continues to seek permits for the project. For more information, including line specifications, related pipeline owners and contractors, see Industrial Info's project report.

The Chemical Processing Industry is looking at $3.72 billion in projected kickoffs in the Northeast in 2017, one of the largest of which is Royal Dutch Shell plc's (NYSE:EDS.A) (The Hague, Netherlands) ethylene plant in Monaca, Pennsylvania, which is among many planned facilities that are turning to the booming Marcellus Shale for feedstock. For more information, including investment-value estimates, see Industrial Info's project report.

Almost three-quarters of the region's total investment value (TIV) for 2017 kickoffs--about $27.6 billion--is related to 407 projects that are now in the planning stages. The region also has 63 projects worth $10.87 billion in the engineering stages, while 348 projects worth about $863 million are maintenance-related.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, five offices in North America and 10 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle™, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities. Follow IIR on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn. For more information on our coverage, send inquiries to info@industrialinfo.com or visit us online at http://www.industrialinfo.com/.