U.S. Power Producers Ready to Kick Off $2.5 Billion in Projects Delayed by COVID-19 Measures

Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--As a vaccine nears and Americans face a stunning growth in confirmed COVID-19 cases, U.S. energy providers are preparing to begin construction on a slew of projects nationwide that had been pushed back amid the pandemic. Industrial Info is tracking about $2.5 billion worth of U.S. power-generation projects that have been delayed or otherwise affected by COVID-19 precautions, but currently are slated to begin construction in first-quarter 2021.

Click on the image at right for a graph detailing pandemic-affected power-generation projects that are set to kick off in the first quarter, by fuel type.

Among the many natural gas-fired projects to be pushed back is NTE Energy's (Saint Augustine, Florida) estimated $700 million Killingly Energy Center in Windham, Connecticut, a 600-megawatt (MW), combined-cycle project that had been set to kick off in May and is now expected to begin construction in March 2021, following a series of delays. Despite the setbacks, the project took a major step forward over the summer when two state-run South Korean companies--power producer Korea Western Power Company (KOWEPO) and investment firm KDB Infrastructure Asset Management (KIAMCO)--agreed to jointly invest in its development and operation. For more information, see Industrial Info's project report.

Two of the largest wind-energy developers in the U.S., NextEra Energy Incorporated (NYSE:NEE) (Juno Beach, Florida) and Invenergy LLC (Chicago, Illinois), were forced to delay the start of construction on two projects in New York State: NextEra's $163 million Eight Point Wind Energy Center in Greenwood, which is designed to generate 102 MW from 31 turbines, and Invenergy's $160 million Number Three Windfarm in Lowville, which is designed to generate 105 MW from 31 turbines. Both were set to kick off this spring, but were delayed to March 2021. For more information, see Industrial Info's project reports for the Greenwood and Lowville projects.

Although next quarter's wind energy projects account for the highest total investment value for delayed kickoffs of any fuel source, solar energy accounts for the highest number of projects. These include Creekwood Energy Partners LLC's (Cincinnati, Ohio) estimated $125 million solar farm in Hillsboro, Ohio, about 40 miles east of Cincinnati, which is expected to generate 100 MW from 310,000 photovoltaic (PV) panels. Construction had been slated to kick off in July, but will not begin until February at the earliest. For more information, see Industrial Info's project report.

Projects with smaller investment values also have the potential to affect the day-to-day lives of many Americans, sometimes in ways more immediately visible than activity at power plants. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Washington D.C.) is planning a series of solar array additions at parking locations for rail stations across in the D.C. area, which it says will be the largest community solar project in the area and one of the largest in the nation. Over the summer, the authority signed a deal with SunPower Corporation (NASDQ:SPWR) and the renewable energy arm of Goldman Sachs Group Incorporated (NYSE:GS) (New York City, New York), worth up to $50 million over 25 years, to install solar-paneled carports or canopies over surface lots and above parking garages at four rail stations:

• $6.32 billion worth at the Southern Avenue Station in Temple Hills, Maryland; see project report
• $3.3 billion worth at the Naylor Road Station in Temple Hills, Maryland; see project report
• $3.24 billion worth at the Cheverly Station in Cheverly, Maryland; see project report
• $3.13 billion worth at the Anacostia Station in D.C.; see project report

According to Metro, SunPower will install the PV panels, while the Goldman Sachs subsidiary will own the solar power system and provide annual payments to Metro through 2047. The projects had been slated to begin construction over the summer, but were pushed back after the COVID-19 outbreak.

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.