Seems the nat gas boom is giving a big boost to plastics which the Behrend campus specializes in;
Plastics production is on its way to becoming a major economic driver in Pennsylvania, as evidenced by Royal Dutch Shell’s $6-billion ethane cracker, slated for construction in Beaver County, Pa. Shell’s new location in Pennsylvania is within 700 miles of 73 percent of the nation’s polyethylene users — placing the product much closer to consumers than its competitors.
As if the Shell plant isn’t enough of a game-changer, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf, the Team Pennsylvania Foundation and DCED released a report, Prospects to Enhance Pennsylvania’s Opportunities in Petrochemical Manufacturing, which forecasts $2.7 to $3.7 billion in investments in NGL assets in Pennsylvania – along with the opportunity to attract up to four additional cracker plants and petrochemical and plastics manufacturing. This notable projection is, again, due to the abundant natural gas resources offered by the Marcellus and Utica Shale reserves.
Pennsylvania’s plastics manufacturing has deep roots in the state, and companies can find both the resources and the talent needed to grow their business. Two of Pennsylvania’s universities offer plastics-specific undergraduate degrees, and two of the five ABET accredited plastics engineering technology programs. Penn State Behrend’s School of Engineering, and Penn College of Technology and its Plastics Innovation and Resource Center, also offer customized workforce development and training programs targeted to incumbent workers. These programs attract companies from around the globe who are looking to train their employees on the latest technologies and practices of the industry.
Story also says that there is the possibility for up to four more cracker plants to be built in the area, creating tens of thousands of jobs.
Plastics production is on its way to becoming a major economic driver in Pennsylvania, as evidenced by Royal Dutch Shell’s $6-billion ethane cracker, slated for construction in Beaver County, Pa. Shell’s new location in Pennsylvania is within 700 miles of 73 percent of the nation’s polyethylene users — placing the product much closer to consumers than its competitors.
As if the Shell plant isn’t enough of a game-changer, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf, the Team Pennsylvania Foundation and DCED released a report, Prospects to Enhance Pennsylvania’s Opportunities in Petrochemical Manufacturing, which forecasts $2.7 to $3.7 billion in investments in NGL assets in Pennsylvania – along with the opportunity to attract up to four additional cracker plants and petrochemical and plastics manufacturing. This notable projection is, again, due to the abundant natural gas resources offered by the Marcellus and Utica Shale reserves.
Pennsylvania’s plastics manufacturing has deep roots in the state, and companies can find both the resources and the talent needed to grow their business. Two of Pennsylvania’s universities offer plastics-specific undergraduate degrees, and two of the five ABET accredited plastics engineering technology programs. Penn State Behrend’s School of Engineering, and Penn College of Technology and its Plastics Innovation and Resource Center, also offer customized workforce development and training programs targeted to incumbent workers. These programs attract companies from around the globe who are looking to train their employees on the latest technologies and practices of the industry.
Story also says that there is the possibility for up to four more cracker plants to be built in the area, creating tens of thousands of jobs.
