BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - A company says it plans to build a $4 billion factory in North Dakota that will convert natural gas liquids into plastic.
Badlands NGL President William Gilliam, Gov. Jack Dalrymple and Sen. John Hoeven announced the project on Monday at the state Capitol in Bismarck.
Gilliam says the plant would convert ethane from natural gas into polyethylene that's used to make plastics.
Gilliam says the plant is slated to be running in 2017. He says a site for the project has not been selected.
Dalrymple says the project would be the largest private investment in state history.
Officials say the project will help capture more of the natural gas that currently is being burned off and wasted as a byproduct of the state's soaring oil production.