Calling it a "game changer" for West Virginia, Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin announced that Odebrecht will build an ethane cracker and three polyurethane plants in the Mid-Ohio Valley region. Odebrecht is an established international petrochemical company known for bringing sustainable solutions to the communities in which it operates. According to David Peeples, vice president of business development for Odebrecht, the company selected Wood County due, in large part, to the collaborative spirit of the area.
"Obviously, the shale play has generated tremendous optimism, and recent production reports from horizontal shale wells are proving the potential of the resource beneath our feet," said Matt Warnock, attorney and co-chair of Bricker & Eckler's Shale Task Force. "Now that we have great wells, we need an outlet for all that production. The midstream and downstream phases of development, including the proposed cracker, are critical to the long-term development and viability of the shale play."
"The ripple effect will be significant," says Christiane Schmenk, Bricker attorney and former director of the Ohio Development Services Agency. "Construction of the plant will bring immediate jobs to the region and stimulate long-term economic growth in communities on both sides of the Ohio River."
City of Marietta Mayor Joe Matthews explained: "I wish the plant could be in Ohio, but this is going to be great for the entire area. We anticipate an increase in jobs, housing and construction work as this project moves forward." This cracker facility complements the region's longstanding manufacturing heritage."
According to Flite Freimann, an attorney located in Bricker's Marietta office, the cracker plant in Wood County, West Virginia could signal a manufacturing renaissance and open the door to the petrochemical industry. "This development broadens the impact of the shale boom and represents a step toward improving the longevity of the shale play. The announcement validates our critical position in America's energy future and is so very personally exciting for the entire region as we look forward to an economic boom benefiting our families – and certainly my four young children – and neighbors for generations to come."
"This is the biggest project to come to Wood County and Ohio in my lifetime," said State Senator David Nohe (R-Vienna) and former mayor of Vienna, West Virginia. "If this project goes as planned, the impact will be felt for many years to come."
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Named to The National Law Journal's "2013 Midsize Hot List," Bricker & Eckler is one of Ohio's leading law firms. Located in Columbus, Cleveland, West Chester and Marietta, the firm represents a wide variety of clients, including businesses and corporations, nonprofit organizations, governmental agencies, health care entities, school districts, municipalities, banks and insurers. Bricker & Eckler has a long history of promoting and supporting diversity and inclusion in our ongoing effort to reflect the communities and clients that we serve. Connect with us online on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
