U.S. West Coast to See Almost $12 Billion in Project Kickoffs Next Quarter, with Biofuels, Solar Among 10 Top-Valued

Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--The U.S. West Coast region is looking at an $11.77 billion tidal wave of projects set to begin construction in fourth-quarter 2015, much of it driven by the state governments' push for energy alternatives such as biofuels and solar. More than 85% of the total is attributed to four industries: Alternative Fuels, Industrial Manufacturing, Power, and Pharmaceutical & Biotech.

Click on the image at right for a graph detailing active projects scheduled to kick off in the fourth quarter of 2015 in the U.S. West Coast region by industry.

The West Coast region includes Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington.

The Alternative Fuels Industry takes the lead with six projects worth $3.23 billion that are set to begin construction in fourth-quarter 2015, one of the largest of which is Inland Pacific Energy Center LLC's (Nyssa, Oregon) $1.4 billion construction of a biofuels complex in Ontario, Oregon. The 138 million-gallon-per-year ethanol plant, which has been planned since 2011, features a corn oil-fractionation system, and a feed mill that will use grains and canola oil as feedstocks. For details on this construction project, see Industrial Info's project report.

The Industrial Manufacturing Industry is close behind with 25 projects worth a total of $3.13 billion that are set to kick off from October through December. The bulk of the total is attached to Sound Transit's (Seattle, Washington) $2.8 billion extension of the East Link Light Rail Transit System in Seattle, which is nominally expected to begin at the end of the year. But the project has been in the early planning stages since at least 2007; like many commuter rail projects in the U.S., its true kickoff date is far from certain, as government funding has consistently proven elusive. For details on this expansion project, see Industrial Info's project report.

Not surprisingly, the Power Industry is facing stronger demand in the region to address growing needs, with 47 projects worth $2.48 billion set to begin construction next quarter. Among the most anticipated is First Solar Incorporated's (NASDAQ:FSLR) (Tempe, Arizona) $315 million construction of the California Flats Solar Project in Shandon, California. The 130-MW facility will use First Solar's Thin-Film Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) photovoltaic panels. McCarthy Building Companies Incorporated (Newport Beach, California) is performing engineering, procurement and construction services. For details on this construction project, see Industrial Info's project report.

The Pharmaceutical & Biotech Industry has 25 projects worth about $1.29 billion set to kick off, including Gilead Sciences Incorporated's (NASDAQ:GILD) (Foster City, California) $400 million expansion of a cardiovascular research and development center in Foster City. The company plans to expand the facility from 1.2 million to about 2.5 million square feet by demolishing 11 buildings and constructing 14 new buildings, including at least three laboratory buildings. For details on this expansion project, see Industrial Info's project report.

For other Pharmaceutical & Biotech Industry projects in California, see February 27, 2015, article - Golden State Delivers on its Name: Life-Science Sector to Invest $2.5 Billion in California 2015 Project Starts.

The remaining six highest-value projects set to kick off in the West Coast region in the fourth quarter are:

• $1.4 Billion: Inland Pacific Energy Center LLC's Construction of a Biofuels Complex in Stanfield, Oregon
  For details on this construction project, see Industrial Info's project report.
• $600 Million: NRG Energy's Construction of a Simple-Cycle Energy Center in Carlsbad, California
  For details on this construction project, see Industrial Info's project report.
• $300 Million: SunEdison's Addition to Mount Signal Solar Farm in Calexico, California
  For details on this construction project, see Industrial Info's project report.
• $300 Million: SunEdison's Second-Phase Addition to Mount Signal Solar Farm in Calexico, California
  For details on this construction project, see Industrial Info's project report.
• $275 Million: Puget Sound Energy's Construction of a Micro-Liquefied Natural Gas Plant in Tacoma, Washington
  For details on this construction project, see Industrial Info's project report.
• $225 Million: BioMed Realty Trust's Redevelopment of Gateway Biotech Research Park in South San Francisco, California
  For details on this construction project, see Industrial Info's project report.

Almost three-quarters of the West Coast's total investment value (TIV)--about $8.7 billion--is related to 64 projects that are now in the planning stages, where plenty of factors could increase, decrease or eliminate the expected spending. The region also has 64 projects worth about $2.88 billion in the engineering stages, while 76 projects worth $193 million already have kicked off an early construction stage.

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.