Gas Boom Rejuvenates Manufacturing

Gases and liquids pumped out of the ground, including ethane, can be processed into chemicals that are made into products ranging from plastics and antifreeze to cosmetics. New petrochemical projects are under way, with Dow Chemical, Sasol Ltd., Phillips 66 and other companies building 148 factories and plant expansions, thanks to the plentiful natural gas now available in the U.S., the American Chemistry Council said.