Northwest

States in the Northwest, like Washington and Oregon, have pledged to become carbon neutral by 2050.

Sustainable building practices, government policy, and planning reforms will all play key roles in this effort. In Oregon, new laws have eliminated single-family zoning in cities with populations over 10,000, while Washington is actively promoting multi-unit housing on lots previously zoned exclusively for single-family homes.

Major cities across the region – like Portland, Seattle, and Denver – are expanding their light rail networks to get people out of their cars. Many of these cities, particularly their more affordable suburbs, are also becoming hubs for semiconductor factories as the government tries to bring manufacturing closer to home. The largest of these is in Boise, Idaho, with similar projects just outside Portland and Seattle.

Infrastructure development is also a key driver of the market here, especially in the energy sector in places like Alaska and Idaho. Further south, cities are looking to capitalize on federal money allocated for roads, bridges, and rail networks. These projects will likely remain large parts of the markets, regardless of the outcome of the upcoming presidential election.

* Other structures include religious buildings, amusement, government communications, and public recreation projects.