SUGAR LAND--July 1, 2008--Since the beginning of the year, Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas) has reported more than 1,900 major industrial projects in North America (U.S., Canada and Mexico) with engineering and/or construction firms identified. These projects represent $336 billion in total investment value (TIV). This equals about 34% of the total number of projects reported during the first six months of 2008 that had engineering and construction firms identified. The Power Industry has the most projects with E&C firms identified with 311 projects totaling $153 billion. The Metals & Minerals Industry is second with 161 projects totaling $40 billion. During the first quarter of 2008, Freeport-McMoRan's ( NYSE:FCX ) began operation at the newest copper mine in the U.S., in Safford, Arizona.