Nonbuilding construction in June plunged 38 percent to $162.5 billion (annual rate). The electric utility and gas plant category fell 80 percent, after surging 229 percent in May with the start of a $9.0 billion LNG export terminal in Corpus Christi, Texas, as well as three large power plants valued each in excess of $500 million.

June did include the start of several large power plants, including an $800 million gas-fired power plant in Massachusetts and three wind farms located in Texas ($450 million), North Dakota ($320 million), and Rhode Island ($300 million), but these were generally smaller in scale than the massive projects entered as May starts.

The public works categories as a group increased 15 percent in June, showing improvement after slipping back during the previous two months. Highway and bridge construction in June advanced 16 percent, helped by the start of large highway projects in North Carolina ($368 million) and California ($253 million), as well as a bridge rehabilitation project in Massachusetts ($148 million).

The miscellaneous public works category grew 28 percent after a weak May, supported by the start of an $80 million outdoor stadium improvement project at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Fla.

On the environmental side, June gains were reported for sewer construction, up 19 percent; and water supply construction, up 3 percent; while river/harbor development held steady with the previous month.