Atlanta, For Immediate Release: China’s dizzyingly rapid modernization, particularly in energy production, ranks as the best “large nation development program” in recent history, noted futurist McKinley Conway contends in his new book, Global Super Projects: Mega Ventures That Are Shaping Our Future.

China ’s landmark program, however, is only one of a host of mega-endeavors in which Conway has selected the most significant projects in recent history. The prolific author of more than two dozen books has also chosen the top projects in 19 other important categories, ranging from environmental and conservation undertakings, to new airports, highways and other infrastructure elements. (To access all of Conway’s selections, as well as the Conway Global Super Projects Registry, look for the online version of the entire book that will be available by Jan. 16, 2006, at www.sitenet.com/books/superprojects. To go directly to the Conway Global Super Projects Registry, go to www.sitenet.com/books/superprojects/registry.)

Conway, a pioneer in the economic development field, made his selections from what he calls “Super Projects, the billion-dollar babies that are changing the face of world development.” A Super Project, he explains, “represents a cost of US$1 billion or more and/or a represents a technological breakthrough of worldwide significance.” Conway’s Atlanta-based research firm, Conway Data Inc., maintains a global Super Project database that now includes some 2,000 ventures.

Just how did Conway, who has studied major global projects for decades and brought together leading Super Project experts in a series of historic worldwide conferences, choose the crème de la crème? The winners, he explains, “were those deemed to be most significant in improving the quality of life for large numbers of the world’s citizens.”

Here, for example, is how the author explained his choice for the world’s top large nation development program:

“The top large-nation program is China’s fast modernization. One may debate the need for tall buildings, but there is no argument about the world’s need for such basic infrastructure elements as transport, energy, water, and communications. It is in these areas that we see a huge global effort – none greater than that of China where scores of billion-dollar infrastructure projects have been launched to meet increasing demand.

“China, for example, accounts for more than 50 new super projects in the energy field alone. They include numerous hydro plants, more than a dozen coal-fired units, and several gas-fueled facilities. The Chinese nuclear program is especially impressive.

“The Chinese government has projected a need for more than 100 nuclear plants by 2040. It is planning to build 30 by 2020. The nation now has a dozen or more nuclear plants in operation with eight more under construction. The typical unit produces 1000 mw and costs over $1 billion.

“While no other nation has such a large program, many countries from the Orient to Europe are building new nuclear generating plants. The United States is one of the few industrial nations not doing so.”