On Thursday, Vermont Gas Systems has filed an application with the Vermont Public Service Board for a certificate of public good to extend a natural gas pipeline into Addison County, deemed the Addison Natural Gas Project.
The project calls for a roughly $70 million, 43-mile transmission line that stretches from Colchester down to Middlebury, providing gas to Vergennes along the way.
“Over 3,000 homes and businesses in Addison County will save $1,500 to $1,900 per year by switching to natural gas,” said CEO of VTGas Don Gilbert in a press statement. “In total, the project will reduce Addison County’s energy bills by over $200 million over the next 20 years and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by almost 300,000 tons over that same period.”
Gov. Peter Shumlin has said he supports the general notion of expanded natural gas access to Vermont businesses and homes, as it is a lower-cost fuel that emits significantly less carbon dioxide than heating oils.
In recent weeks, Monkton and Hinesburg residents and selectboards have voiced concern about the proposed route of the pipeline through residential portions of their towns
http://vtdigger.org/2012/12/14/hinesburg-joins-monkton-in-opposing-vtgas-pipeline-route/
The two towns want VTGas to use the VELCO utility transmission corridor, which runs through their borders, and Gilbert said he is committed to working with Monkton and Hinesburg to find a solution.
On Thursday, a small group of protestors from Rising Tide Vermont held a demonstration at VTGas’ headquarters. While some demonstrators opposed the route, others opposed the pipeline altogether. Those opposing the line outright raised environmental concerns, as natural gas is a fossil fuel and sometimes come from fracking, a controversial extraction technique.
VTGas spokesman Steve Wark said the company hopes to have state approval by autumn 2013 and finish construction on the pipeline by 2014 or 2015. The company has also expressed interest in extending the pipeline to Bristol and down to Rutland.
During the summer of 2013, the company plans to submit an application to the state board to construct a pipeline under Lake Champlain from the Middlebury area to New York, where VTGas plans to service International Paper’s Ticonderoga mill.
http://vtdigger.org/2012/09/11/vermont-gas-eyes-building-gas-line-under-lake-champlain/
