FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Catherine DeLoughry, Pittsburgh Regional Alliance
cdeloughry@alleghenyconference.org
412-496-8538 (cell)
412-281-4783 ext. 3131
Statement from Pittsburgh Regional Alliance
President Dewitt Peart on execution of Shell Chemical, LP and Horsehead Corporation land option agreement
(PITTSBURGH – November 7, 2014) In response to Horsehead Corporation’s announcement that Shell Chemical, LP has exercised its land option agreement for the purchase of Horsehead Corporation’s site located near Monaca, Pa., the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance made the following statement.
The announcement of the purchase of the site reaffirms Shell Chemical’s interest in building a petrochemical facility in Beaver County and is an important step forward in making the proposed facility a reality.
“We recognize that this land acquisition in Potter Township is yet another significant step in the progress of the project but it doesn’t signal a final investment decision at this time. However, for those of us who drive by the site on a regular basis, it’s clear that the landscape is changing and substantial demolition is occurring,” said Dewitt Peart, president, Pittsburgh Regional Alliance.
Shell Chemical has stated that it is engaged in a multi-year evaluation of the site that includes environmental analysis, engineering design studies, evaluation of ethane supply and economic viability. Shell continues conducting a series of community meetings to explain aspects of the proposed project in greater detail.
The Pittsburgh Regional Alliance remains optimistic that the site in Potter Township will become the home of a state-of-the-art, petrochemical complex including a world-scale ethane cracker and three polyethylene units at the conclusion of the evaluation process.
Shell Chemical announced in 2012 that it was considering the site previously used by Horsehead Corporation for smelting operations for the construction of a world-class petrochemical facility that would process ethane for use as a manufacturing feedstock.
An economic impact analysis on the proposed facility carried out by the Pennsylvania Economy League of Greater Pittsburgh in 2012 found that during the peak construction phase there are likely to be 10,000 direct and 18,000 total jobs generated across the 10-county Pittsburgh region. The economic output during peak construction is projected to be $2.8 billion. Once the facility is in operation, the analysis predicts 400 direct jobs with 2000 to 8000 jobs total and an annual economic output from operations at $4.8 billion.
More information about Shell Chemical’s multi-year evaluation process is available at http://www.shell.us/aboutshell/projects-locations/appalachia.html
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The Pittsburgh Regional Alliance (PRA), the marketing affiliate of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, markets the benefits of conducting business in southwestern Pennsylvania to companies all over the world that are growing, relocating or expanding. The PRA also works to support the growth of existing regional employers.
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