U.S. West Coast Lights Up with More than $10 Billion in Second-Quarter 2016 Kickoffs, Led by Renewables

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Renewable energy projects, particularly in California and Washington state, are part of what's driving the $10.05 billion in projected second-quarter 2016 construction starts in the U.S. West Coast region, according to Industrial Info's project database. More than 80% of the total can be attributed to just four industries: Power, Petroleum Refining, Pharmaceutical & Biotech and Industrial Manufacturing.

Click on the image at right for a graph detailing active projects scheduled to kick off in the second quarter of 2016 in the U.S. West Coast region by industry.

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

The Power Industry is ahead of all others in its total investment value (TIV) for projects set to kick off on the West Coast in second-quarter 2016, at $3.16 billion. One of the largest is 8minutenergy Renewables LLC's (Los Angeles, California) $320 million Rockwood photovoltaic (PV) solar farm near El Centro, California. HDR Engineering Incorporated (Irvine, California) and GS Lyon Consultants (El Centro) are serving as engineers on the 100-megawatt (MW) facility. For more information, see Industrial Info's project report.

The Petroleum Refining Industry is in a strong second place with $1.93 billion in projects that are currently set to begin construction from April through June. Among them is Royal Dutch Shell plc's (NYSE:RDS.A) (The Hague, Netherlands) $450 million greenhouse gas reduction project at a refinery in Martinez, California. The company expects to shift its feedstock to light from heavy crude by shutting down the existing flexicoker unit and making plant-wide upgrades. To comply with the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, Shell hopes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 700,000 metric tonnes per year; water use by 15%; and sulfur dioxide emissions by 25%. For more information, see Industrial Info's project report.

The Pharmaceutical & Biotech Industry takes the bronze with $1.59 billion in projects set to begin construction in the second quarter, the largest of which is BioMed Realty Trust Incorporated's $225 million redevelopment of Gateway Biotech Research Park in San Francisco, California. The company plans to demolish two existing, six-story buildings and construct a five- to 10-story, 400,000-square-foot life-science research building. BioMed Realty Trust is a subsidiary of The Blackstone Group LP (NYSE:BX) (New York, New York). For more information, see Industrial Info's project report.

The Industrial Manufacturing Industry is set to see more than $1.5 billion in projects kick off in the third quarter, but the bulk of that total is attributed to Honolulu Rail Transit's $1.04 billion addition to its light-rail system in Honolulu, Hawaii. The four-mile addition, which is expected to include eight stations, is part of a larger, 20-mile system that will service the city center and Ala Moana Center, the largest shopping mall in Hawaii. Like many light-rail projects across the country, the Honolulu system has faced frequent delays and is unlikely to be completed until second-quarter 2018. For more information, see Industrial Info's project report.

The remaining seven highest-value projects set to begin construction in the West Coast region in second-quarter 2016 are:

• $680 million: Frontier Renewables' Wright Solar Park near Santa Nella Village, California
  For more information, see Industrial Info's project report
• $500 million: Sea Breeze Power Corporation's Juan de Fuca Converter Station in Port Angeles, Washington
  For more information, see Industrial Info's project report
• $500 million: ConocoPhillips' addition to Kuparuk crude oil and natural gas central production plant in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska
  For more information, see Industrial Info's project report
• $400 million: Tesoro Corporation's refinery unit addition in Anacortes, Washington
  For more information, see Industrial Info's project report
• $300 million: Southern Company's additions to Desert Stateline Solar Park in Nipton, California
  For more information, see Industrial Info's project report
• $300 million: Chevron Corporation's hydrogen unit replacement at a refinery in Richmond, California
  For more information, see Industrial Info's project report
• $250 million: Port of Oakland's coal/limestone/salt bulk marine terminal in Oakland, California
  For more information, see Industrial Info's project report

About two-thirds of the West Coast's TIV--about $6.22 billion--is related to 69 projects that are now in the engineering stages. The region also has 88 projects worth about $3.54 billion in the planning stages, where plenty of factors could increase, decrease or eliminate the expected spending, while 97 projects worth $293 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. 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/.