Nucor Breaks Ground On St. James Parish Plant

CONVENT, La. (AP) — The head of Nucor Corp. says plentiful natural gas supplies made it possible for the steel maker to come to Louisiana — and also offers the prospect of creating thousands of jobs nationwide.

Chief Executive Dan DiMicco spoke after he and Gov. Bobby Jindal formally broke ground Monday for a $750 million ironmaking plant in St. James Parish.

DiMicco said Monday that the U.S. needs to expand the use of natural gas in order to attract domestic capital investment and manufacturing projects.

The plant is part of what could eventually be a $3.4 billion complex employing up to 1,250 people. The first phase calls for 150 permanent jobs.