Construction is officially underway for Chatham-Kent's newest natural gas project.
On Wednesday morning in Dresden, Associate Minister of Energy Bill Walker announced that construction has begun on two new natural gas transmission pipelines being built in the area.
The original announcement of the pipelines was made in mid-March 2019, pending approval from the Ontario Energy Board. Approval was granted on July 11 and construction began less than two weeks later.
The $19.1 million pipeline project, officially titled the Chatham-Kent Rural Pipeline Expansion, is being developed by Enbridge Gas. According to Enbridge President Cynthia Hansen, the project is expected to unlock over $260 million of development potential in Chatham-Kent and surrounding areas.
"We are committed to having this project in service by the end of 2019, so this community can benefit from the added capacity and related benefits this expansion will generate," she said. "We’re looking forward to serving the needs of these new and growing commercial and industrial customers in the Chatham-Kent area."
Lambton-Kent-Middlesex MPP Monte McNaughton was on hand for the announcement and boasted that the project is going to bring some financial relief to those living in the area.
"[The province's plan for natural gas in southwestern Ontario] is expected to save average residents up to $1,200 per year and expand natural gas to 1,600 new homes in this area," McNaughton explained. "This project, which was committed to in the election by Premier [Doug] Ford, is going to make life more affordable."
The 13-kilometre pipeline will run along Base Line Road, starting at Simpson Road and ending at Kent Bridge Road. The expansion plan also includes a 500-metre, 12-inch diameter pipe near Dover Centre.
That's welcome news for Chatham-Kent-Leamington MPP Rick Nicholls, who said that rural part of the municipality has been neglected for many years.
"The people down in this area will finally have access to natural gas," exclaimed Nicholls. "Not only for homes but also for businesses, greenhouses in particular. So it's a very great day, a very positive day for Chatham-Kent."
The municipality estimates that the project will create up to 1,400 new jobs for the local greenhouse industry.
“The construction of this new natural gas line in Chatham-Kent is vital because it allows for the immediate development and expansion of businesses in our community," said Mayor Darrin Canniff. "The work we are doing today ensures future generations of Chatham-Kent residents will have access to important job-making infrastructure."
Enbridge was given an $8 million grant from Ontario’s Natural Gas Grant Program and $500,000 from the municipality of Chatham-Kent to go towards the project's construction costs.
-With files from Michael Hugall