The New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA), the nation's largest state-level employer association, recently presented its New Good Neighbor Award to ConocoPhillips Bayway Refinery's new Polypropylene Plant in Linden Township.

NJBIA President Philip Kirschner presented the award to Propylene Plant Manager Mike Wirkowski at the 44th Annual New Good Neighbor Awards luncheon, held June 8 at the Sheraton at Woodbridge Place in Iselin.

"Innovation and entrepreneurship were on display at every step of the creation of the ConocoPhillips Bayway Refinery Polypropylene Plant," Kirschner said. "From finding better uses for the by-products of their oil refinery operation to brownfields redevelopment and cogeneration of electricity, the Bayway Refinery used new thinking for a project that will add 75 jobs to the local economy."

The Bayway refinery was looking for a more efficient way to utilize propylene and ethylene, gases that are generated as a by-product of refining fuels. So instead of shipping them to customers all over the country, ConocoPhillips built an on-site processing unit that converts these gases into plastic resins that are used to make thousands of every day products from disposable diapers to car bumpers.

Building a plant to convert these gasses into pellets, however, was a complicated and expensive operation. The $250 million complex required more than 600 workers to build.

In completing the plant, the company had to overcome two significant obstacles. The equipment necessary to complete the conversion was too large to fit along a normal roadway. ConocoPhillips and its contractors worked with the NJ Department of Transportation, local police, utilities, fire and public works departments to temporarily shut down a two-mile stretch of Routes 1 and 9 so specialized trailers could haul the equipment to the site at night.

The process also dramatically increased ConocoPhillips demand for electric power. As a result of energy deregulation, Bayway was able to enter into an agreement with Goldman Sachs to install a new turbine at the Linden Cogeneration Plant to provide electricity to the entire site.

The effort paid off. The Polypropylene Plant brought an old brownfields site back to life and now provides jobs for about 75 people. The plant also helps the taxpayers of Linden. Bayway signed a 20-year host community benefit agreement with the City that provides a steady stream of revenue.

"In addition to running a reliable operation, Bayway is truly a good neighbor in that they are active in our community," said Linden Mayor John T. Gregorio, who nominated the project. "Clearly, they have improved the business climate in Linden and New Jersey with these investments in their facility and community."

The poject was designed by Union Carbide Corp., a subsidiary of the Dow Chemical Company, and built by Aker Kvaerner of Bridgewater.

The New Good Neighbor Awards are presented annually to new developments or renovations that exhibit architectural excellence, create jobs, and enhance the community. An independent panel of judges selected the winners. In 2004, NJBIA received 31 New Good Neighbor Award nominations representing nearly $600 million worth of construction and creating 5,600 jobs.

NJBIA represents more than 22,000 member companies throughout New Jersey.