Edmonton: EPCOR Natural Gas Limited Partnership announced July 12 that it had received the leave to construct approval from the Ontario Energy Board needed to begin construction on a natural gas distribution system for the Southern Bruce region. The project will provide the area’s residents, farms and businesses with access to natural gas for the first time.
The work required to construct the distribution system and connect customers is scheduled to be complete in 2021. It’s expected that the Bruce Industrial Park will be connected in 2019, followed by the communities of Kincardine, Tiverton and Inverhuron in 2020, and the communities of Paisley, Chelsey, Lucknow, Ripley, Point Clark and Lurgan Beach in 2021.
The natural gas distribution system will consist of a large diameter mainline — the backbone of the system that will transport gas to each of the communities — along with smaller diameter high density polyethylene distribution piping, which will be constructed within each of the communities to directly serve homes and businesses.
As the project progresses, local stakeholders will be notified of construction activities in their areas, and potential customers will be provided with information on how to get ready for natural gas service.
Anne Eadie, the Mayor of the Municipality of Kincardine, said, “In 2011, the three municipalities in Southern Bruce started on their long quest to bring Natural Gas to their residents and local businesses. Through a competitive process, the Southern Bruce municipalities chose EPCOR to build, own, and operate the project. Now with the final Ontario Energy Board approval, our dream of bringing natural gas to the area is finally a reality! Construction can begin! A special thank you to EPCOR for their expertise and dedication to our Southern Bruce project!”