"The New Boom: Shale Gas Fueling An American Industrial Revival"

"The shale gas revolution is firing up an old-fashioned American industrial revival, breathing life into businesses such as petrochemicals and glass, steel and toys."



"Consider the rising fortunes of Ascension Parish, La.

 Methanex Corp., which closed its last U.S. chemical plant in 1999, is spending more than half a billion dollars to dismantle a methanol plant in Chile and move it to the parish.

Nearby, a petrochemical company, Williams, is spending $400 million to expand an ethylene plant. And on Nov. 1, CF Industries unveiled a $2.1 billion expansion of its nitrogen fertilizer manufacturing complex, aiming to displace imports that now make up half of U.S. nitrogen fertilizer sales."

Steven Mufson reports for the Washington Post November 14, 2012.

SEE ALSO:

"How Cheap Energy From Shale Will Reshape America's Role in the World" (Guardian)

"Energy Independence in the United States? Don’t Pop the Cork Yet" (New York Times)

"North American Energy Rebound Catches Industry's Attention" (New York Times)

"Making an Energy Boom Work for the U.S." (New York Times)

"The Natural Gas Myth" (Slate)

"Top Senate Lawmakers See Chance To Revamp U.S. Energy Policy" (Reuters)

"As U.S. Hesitates, California Pours Billions Into Green Energy" (Reuters)
 

Source: Wash Post, 11/16/2012