West Coast Spending Robust During Third Quarter of 2012, with $4.2 Billion in Projects Planned

---

Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--The West Coast states of California, Oregon and Washington are shaping up for some robust spending as the third quarter of the year approaches, with upward of $4.2 billion in capital work anticipated. As usual, energy and power markets on the West Coast lead the way with potential project starts, with 21 projects scheduled to begin construction in the next three months, totaling more than $2.5 billion in spending.

Solar- and wind-related renewable energy projects in California should begin with the large, 200-megawatt (MW), $800 million solar energy farm near the U.S. and Mexico border that is planned by 8minutenergy Renewables LLC (Sacramento, California). Pattern Energy Group LP (San Francisco, California) is planning to construct a 315-MW windfarm in Imperial, California.

Additional solar projects include LS Power Development LLC's (Chesterfield, Missouri) 130-MW solar project in Calexico, California; OPDE U.S. Corporation's 24-MW solar station in Sacramento; Viridis Fuels' biofuel power generating station in Oakland; and ImMODO Group's solar projects in Sultana, Seville, Orisi and Kingsburg.

Pharma and biotech spending is expected to be about $589 million for the quarter. University of California San Diego has $319 million worth of lab expansions, and Shorenstein Realty Services has a $100 million research and development biotech campus in South San Francisco.

Food and beverage spending tops out at about $425 million, with the proposed $320 million desalination project from Poseidon Resources Corporation (Stamford, Connecticut) that is finally expected to see significant progress.

Alternative biofuels projects are looking at $305 million in spending, and the industry is hopeful that projects can be funded and begin construction. Cellulosic based ethanol projects are planned by Novahol Spokane LLC (Fresno, California), EdeniQ Incorporated (Visalia, California) and Calgren Renewable Fuels LLC (Pixley, California).

Other companies with large projects are Golden Queen Mining Company Limited, which has a $105 million-plus gold mine in Mojave, and Granite Construction Company Incorporated (Fallbrook, California), which has a new quarry in Fallbrook.

The refining, industrial manufacturing and chemical processing industries top out with spending of about $234 million.

There are currently more than 3,500 plants operating on the West Coast, with 2,380 plants in California, 650 plants in Washington, and 492 plants in Oregon.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, and eight offices outside of North America, 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.