Ford Motor Company is investing $1.6bn in a new plant in Mexico's San Luis Potosi State in a bid to increase production of small cars.
Mayo Clinic is set to invest $100m in major construction projects at its Florida campus in 2016.Mayo Clinic will start constructing a destination medical building in mid-2016. The facility will provide integrated services needed for complex cancer, as well as neurologic and neurosurgical care.Initially, the building will have four floors, covering an area of 150,000 sq ft, with the potential for 11 more levels. Two floors will be devoted exclusively to haematology and oncology care, one floor for neurology and neurosurgery, a chemotherapy area, and spaces for training residents and fellows.Once opened, the building is expected to serve more than 126,000 patients in the first year alone. The staff strength of the haematology and oncology department will increase by 50%. The project will also enable the hiring of 12 new neurologists and neurosurgeons.Mayo Clinic has said that another construction project slated to commence this year on its Florida campus is a positron emission tomography (PET) radiochemistry facility.
Metal Container Corporation (MCC), a subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch, has started construction on a $175m aluminium bottle line at its facility in Jacksonville, Florida.The new move is part of the company’s strategy to improve production of the Budweiser and Bud Light aluminium bottles.Anheuser-Busch has been producing aluminium bottles since 2013. Jacksonville will be the second MCC facility to produce them. Anheuser-Busch has also operated a brewery in Jacksonville since 1969. The project is expected to create about 75 new jobs at the facility.MCC president Dave Taylor said: “Since it launched in early 2014, the aluminium bottle has become overwhelmingly popular with beer drinkers, and we are proud to break ground on a new line in Jacksonville that will further expand production of the popular bottles, while adding jobs.“The innovative, high-demand aluminium bottles will be enjoyed by fans as the 2016 baseball season and the busy spring and summer beer-selling seasons begin.”
Alliant Energy has received a verbal approval from The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) to begin construction on its Riverside Energy Center expansion project near Beloit, Wisconsin.The Riverside Energy Center expansion was first announced in late 2014. It will be built near Alliant Energy’s existing 675MW, natural gas-fired generating station.The project is valued at $700m, excluding transmission and AFUDC costs. It will substitute about 640MW of older Wisconsin coal and gas units and once completed will be powering more than 535,000 homes.Riverside Energy Center expansion project is scheduled to break ground later in 2016 and it is expected to be operational by early 2020. It will create more than 1,000 construction jobs in the region.The PSCW approval is contingent on Alliant Energy obtaining other state and federal permits for the project.Alliant Energy chairman, president and CEO Patricia Kampling said: “This is a major step forward as the Riverside project is a critical part of our mission to provide reliable, cost-effective energy to our customers for many years to come. “This highly efficient generating station will modernize our generating operations and further our transition to cleaner energy sources.”
The government of Canada has announced an investment worth over CAD170m ($131.2m) to protect and preserve Parks Canada’s five historic canals in Quebec.Parks Canada, an agency of the government of Canada that is operated by the Minister of the Environment, will use the funding for projects including reconstruction work on the walls of the Lachine Canal, on the lock of the Carillon Canal, and on the locks and bridges of the Chambly Canal.The investment will be used to upgrade and reconstruct heritage buildings such as the Chambly Canal superintendent’s house and to construct structures that preserve biodiversity, such as the Vianney-Legendre Fish Ladder on the Saint‑Ours Canal. Further, service areas and footpaths will be constructed for the Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue Canal.Minister of environment and climate change Catherine McKenna said: “Through this significant investment, our government is protecting and preserving these treasured places, while supporting local economies, contributing to growth in the tourism sector, and enhancing the charm and attractiveness of these heritage sites.“I encourage Canadians to visit and experience Parks Canada’s special places and to enjoy the outdoors, while learning about our rich history and heritage.”
Dominion Virginia Power has received approval from the Virginia State Corporation Commission to build a $1.3bn natural gas-fired power plant in Greensville County, Virginia.Greensville Power Station will be constructed on a 55-acre site that is situated on either side of the Greensville/Brunswick County line. It will generate 1,588MW of electricity, enough to supply to 400,000 customers.The plant will be just a few miles away from Dominion's Brunswick Power Station, which is expected to be fully operational in April 2016.The power plant will have low carbon intensity as it will utilise clean-burning natural gas, combined cycle technology and competent control technology to reduce emissions. It will also have lower water usage that will minimise the impact to rivers and streams.Construction of the plant is scheduled to begin later in 2016. The project will create over 1,000 construction jobs and about 45 full-time vacancies once operational in 2019. Dominion Generation Group CEO Paul Koonce said: "This project will ultimately bring low cost, reliable electricity to our customers while saving them $2bn over the life of the plants' operation, in addition to providing a major economic impact and good-paying jobs for Southside Virginia."
Novo Nordisk, a healthcare company, has started construction on its new $1.8bn diabetes medicine production facility in Clayton, North Carolina.The construction site is located next to the company’s existing 457,000 sq ft Clayton facility, which has been expanded several times since its inception in 1996. The new plant will measure 833,000 sq ft and have a footprint of 417,639 sq ft.Upon fully operational in 2020, the facility will produce active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) for a range of Novo Nordisk's current and future GLP-1 and insulin medicines.It is anticipated that the project will require to 2,500 construction workers at its peak, and will create nearly 700 new permanent jobs.Novo Nordisk president and CEO Lars Rebien Sørensen said: "As the prevalence of diabetes has grown in the US, so too has the demand for effective treatments."It gives me great pride to break ground on our new facility site in Clayton where we have an existing, strong organization. This site will play a vital role in enabling us to meet the needs of people living with diabetes in the US for years to come."
The board of directors of the Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) has chosen to award a $108m contract to O.C. Jones & Sons for the construction of a 9.5-mile roadway project in California.The scope of the contract will include the construction of the infrastructure and station platforms for AC Transit’s first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line, which is being developed in three separate projects. O.C. Jones & Sons received the contract for the third project.
The US Department of Energy (DOE) has approved and agreed to participate in Clean Line Energy Partners’ Plains & Eastern Clean Line transmission project.Estimated to cost $2.5bn, the project is due to be the largest clean energy infrastructure project in the US. It will offer 4,000MW of low-cost, clean power from the Oklahoma Panhandle region to customers in Arkansas, Tennessee and other states in the Mid-South and Southeast through a 705-mile direct current transmission line. The power generated is expected to be sufficient for over one million American households.The project will be entirely funded by private investment, and is anticipated to create thousands of jobs in Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Tennessee. It will include the construction of a 500MW converter station in Arkansas.Clean Line Energy Partners president Michael Skelly said that the regulatory nod will allow construction work to begin in 2017.
Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) has commenced construction work on a new substation project in Monmouth County, New Jersey.The project, part of JCP&L's multi-year $250m transmission system reliability enhancement program, is estimated to cost $124m. Nearly $97m will be spent for the project in 2016.Work will include the construction of a new 16-mile, 230kV transmission line along existing right-of-way with steel pole construction to connect JCP&L substations in Howell and Neptune. The project will also involve the reconstruction of an existing 230kV transmission line connecting substations in Colts Neck and Neptune using steel poles, as well as installation of new equipment in the substations such as circuit breakers and remote-control communications equipment. The new transmission line is due to be operational by June 2017.JCP&L president Jim Fakult said: "This transmission project will make our system in Monmouth County more resilient and help meet the growing demand for electricity in the region. "Along with the greater redundancies provided by the new transmission line, the high-tech substation devices we plan to install will give us the ability to operate the system remotely, automatically resetting the equipment instead of having to send a line crew to investigate the cause of the problem."
Técnicas Reunidas has secured a contract worth $800m from Pemex Transformación Industrial to deliver the second phase of the ultra low sulphur diesel project at the General Refinery Lazaro Cardenas in Minatitlan, Mexico.This phase will include the engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning of two new refining units - a diesel hydrodesulphurisation unit (30,000bpd) and sulphur recovery plant (150tpd). Expected to be completed within a 36-month period, this phase will also include upgrades to an existing hydrodesulphurisation unit, the corresponding auxiliary services, as well as the integration of the facilities outside battery limits for these plants. Técnicas Reunidas won a contract for the $50m first phase in September 2014. This phase involved the execution of an extended basic design, a detailed estimation of the investment cost and the purchase of long-term delivery equipment. The project is part of the development plans being carried out by Pemex Transformación Industrial within the Fuel Quality Project at their refineries across the country, and entails investment of $5.5bn. The works are expected to create 12,000 direct jobs and 31,000 indirect jobs.
Granite Construction has won a $209m contract for modification of the 59/20 interchange in Alabama, US.The scope of the contract, awarded by the Alabama Department of Transportation, will include the construction of the interchange at I-59/20 and I-65 on the northwest side of the Central Business District in Birmingham.In addition, work will involve the construction of new direct connector bridges to downtown, widening of existing bridges, replacement of crossover bridges, and upgrades to main lane pavement.Construction on the project is expected to commence in early 2016, and will be completed by the end of 2018.
DTE Gas has announced plans to invest $1.4bn to modernise its natural gas pipeline infrastructure in Michigan over the next five years.The investment will be used to upgrade the company’s cast iron and steel main pipelines with newer and more durable material, as well as for installation of new service lines for homes and businesses. Over 100 miles of gas main lines are due to be replaced this year.Work will also involve the relocation of natural gas meters from the interior portion of homes and businesses and replacing them with modernised meters on the exterior, and upgrades to the compressor stations.DTE Gas president and COO Mark Stiers said: "Replacing older gas lines with the latest in pipeline material ensures that our natural gas system remains safe for our customers. The key to maintaining a safe pipeline system is our regular inspections and maintenance of the lines."
Plans have been unveiled for a casino and deluxe destination resort in East Taunton, Massachusetts.The project, dubbed First Light, is estimated to cost $500m. Work will be carried out in phases, with phase one involving construction of the casino, restaurants, entertainment and retail offerings. This phase is expected to be completed by the middle of next year.Plans for other phases will include the construction of three hotels, a parking garage, as well as a water park.The project is being financially backed by the Genting Group of Malaysia. It is also anticipated to create at least 1,000 construction jobs, and about 2,600 permanent jobs.The project is expected to break ground by April, subject to state approval.
Tutor Perini has won contracts from Related Companies and Oxford Properties Group for the construction of 15 Hudson Yards (Tower D) and The Shops & Restaurants (Retail Complex) at Hudson Yards in New York.The construction value managed by Tutor Perini for the two projects is worth about $1.2bn.The 70-storey, 960,000 sq ft 15 Hudson Yards building will be the first residential building at Hudson Yards. Expected to open in 2018, the building will feature 391 for-sale and rental residences, along with other amenities including an Equinox Fitness Club, and social and entertaining venues.The seven-storey Retail Complex will cover 1m sq ft area. The property, expected to open in 2018, will be home to The Shops & Restaurants at Hudson Yards.Tutor Perini Building Group executive vice president and CEO Craig Shaw said: “We are proud to be working with Related and Oxford on the Hudson Yards development, the largest privately funded development project in US history, and we are pleased to continue our work on the newest Hudson Yards buildings currently under construction.”
Gemma Power Systems has received full notice to proceed to start construction on a 475MW natural gas-fired power plant in Kings Mountain, North Carolina.The company has secured an EPC services contract from NTE Energy affiliate NTE Carolinas for the project, which is expected to be completed in the second half of 2018.The facility will incorporate an advanced Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems Americas M501GAC combustion turbine generator, a Vogt Power International supplementary-fired heat recovery steam generator, along with a Toshiba America Energy Systems steam turbine generator.The power generated by the plant will be sold to nine municipal and state owned utilities in North Carolina and South Carolina, under individual long-term power sale agreements. The project is being funded by a group of nine financial institutions, led by ING Capital and MUFG Union Bank, which offered $387m in various senior secured credit facilities. Capital Dynamics and Wattage Finance-NC, LLC is providing $218m in equity commitments for the project.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport general manager Miguel Southwell has unveiled details of the airport’s capital plan.Dubbed ATLNext, the 20-year capital plan will include upgrades to atrium and the exterior of the domestic terminal.
Aecom Capital and FFP New Hydro have formed a new partnership to develop and build six hydropower projects on the Muskingum River in southeastern Ohio.The six projects, developed by the Muskingum River Hydro partnership, are expected to produce a total of 23MW, which is sufficient to power 11,500 households. The projects will entail an investment of over $100m.Four of these projects have already secured Federal Energy Regulatory Commission licenses. The low-impact generation facilities will be added to existing lock and dam structures, which are owned and operated by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.The projects are anticipated to commence construction in 2017 and will be operational by 2018. Each project is anticipated to create 100 to 150 jobs during the construction phase, and continued staffing and service employment during operations.Aecom Capital CEO John Livingston said: “Muskingum River Hydro LLC represents an attractive opportunity for Aecom Capital to strengthen our commitment to clean energy projects and invest and develop in new hydropower on existing dams alongside the industry leading team of investors and developers at FFP New Hydro.”
The company’s team includes experts in design, engineering, project management, management consultancy, planning, economy, business strategy, infrastructure finance advice, public private partnerships, cost consultancy, low carbon and environmentalism, technology, safety, health and education, and development policy.
Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations has broken ground on a project to expand its passenger tyre manufacturing facility in Wilson, North Carolina.