Black & Veatch Takes Lead in $36 Billion of Projects, Fueled by U.S. Natural Gas Plants

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) giant Black & Veatch (B&V) (Overland Park, Kansas) is at work on projects touching nearly every corner of the Power-Generation Industry, and the company is increasing its presence across the rapidly diversifying natural gas-fired generation market--especially in the eastern United States. Industrial Info is tracking more than $36 billion in active projects involving B&V, including nearly $13 billion worth that are set to begin construction in the first half of 2020.

Within the U.S., B&V is attached to nearly $7.6 billion in power-generation projects, about 70% of which is attributed to natural gas-fired, combined-cycle (NGCC) facilities. With only two such projects, Ohio accounts for nearly $1.8 billion: CME Energy LLC's (Boston, Massachusetts) $860 million addition to its Clean Energy Center in the city of Oregon, and Clean Energy Future LLC's $925 million Trumbull Energy Center in Lordstown. Each plant will use two combustion turbines and a steam turbine, provided by Siemens AG (Munich, Germany); the Oregon unit is expected to generate 955 megawatts (MW), which will be added to the output of the existing 800-MW plant, while the Lordstown plant is designed to generate 940 MW.

The Marcellus and Utica shale plays, which stretch across eastern Ohio and into Pennsylvania, have fueled a years-long buildout in natural gas-fired power facilities within the two states. Last year, Clean Energy Future cancelled plans for a third, $1.1 billion NGCC plant in Lordstown, after the state approved subsidies for nuclear-power developers. For more information, see Industrial Info's reports on the Oregon and Lordstown projects.

Two other NGCC plants are set for Michigan: Development Partners Group LLC's (White Plains, New York) estimated $600 million Marshall Energy Center in Marshall, which is designed to generate 500 MW, and the Lansing Board of Water and Light's $500 million Erickson Power Station in Lansing, which will generate 250 MW. The Erickson facility is under construction, while the Marshall facility is set to begin construction this spring; both will use turbines provided by Siemens. For more information, see Industrial Info's reports on the Marshall and Erickson projects.

Click on the image at right for a map of B&V's gas-fired U.S. projects set to begin construction this year.

B&V's presence in the NGCC market extends far beyond the U.S. Northeast. Last year, PowerSouth Energy Cooperative (Andalusia, Alabama) selected B&V to engineer and manage construction for its estimated $608 million overhaul of the Charles R. Lowman Energy Center in Leroy, Alabama. The facility, which is replacing three coal-fired units with a gas-fired unit, is expected to generate 640 MW for Alabama and northwest Florida. For more information, see Industrial Info's project report.

"Combined-cycle technology offers clear advantages in terms of efficiency and scale, and the cost of natural gas means PowerSouth can take advantage of an affordable and plentiful energy source well into the future," said Mario Azar, the president of B&V's power business, to reporters last year.

Intermountain Power Agency (South Jordan, Utah) also plans to employ B&V as it prepares to replace one of the largest coal-fired power plants in the U.S. with an estimated $800 million NGCC unit in Delta, Utah. The Intermountain Generation Station, which is managed by the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (LADWP), would end all coal-fired operations by 2025 in favor of natural gas; LADWP plans to further convert the plant to hydrogen-fueled generation by 2045, according to Utility Dive.

In addition to Utah, the power plant serves large swaths of Nevada and California. LADWP said the long-term plans for hydrogen generation are necessary for California to reach its goal of 100% clean power by 2045. Exactly how much would be generated with natural gas or hydrogen is unclear, with estimates ranging between 840 and 1,200 MW. For more information, see Industrial Info's project report.

In addition to its NGCC projects, B&V is at work on a series of solar-generation facilities across Florida for Florida Power & Light Company, a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Incorporated (NYSE:NEE) (Juno Beach, Florida). Three are set to achieve commercial operation before the end of January, each of which will generate 74.5 MW from 330,000 photovoltaic (PV) panels:

• $120 million Twin Lakes Energy Center in Hollister; see project report
• $120 million Sweetbay Energy Center in Indiantown; see project report
• $100 million Southfork Energy Center in Duette; see project report

Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, six offices in North America and 12 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/.