Vermont Gas extending line to Enosburg, Franklin foods

Vermont Gas has announced that it is now serving Franklin Foods with natural gas. Franklin Foods is a regionally-important business that employs over 100 people. The company, founded in Franklin County in 1899, is the third-largest cream cheese producer in the country and is known for its excellent quality and dairy innovation.
Vermont Gas is adding 14 miles of natural gas distribution pipeline that will provide a more affordable, cleaner and safe energy option for 490 residential and 110 commercial customers in the Village of Enosburg.
"We are extremely pleased to partner with Franklin Foods to provide them with cleaner, lower cost energy and to bring natural gas service to the residents of Enosburg," said Don Gilbert, President and CEO of Vermont Gas. "We hear repeatedly from Vermont businesses about how important it is to lower their cost of energy in order to compete nationally and maintain or grow their work force locally. It gives us a great deal of satisfaction to be able to extend the economic and environmental benefits of natural gas service to more of Vermont's homes and businesses."
"We are so pleased to finally have natural gas supplied to our Enosburg Falls production facility," said Jon Gutknecht President & CEO of Franklin Foods in Enosburg. "We were happy to play a role in helping bring this cost effective 'greener' energy benefit not just to our plant, but to all the citizens and businesses of Enosburg."
Franklin Foods is the first customer in Enosburg to be connected to natural gas and work is underway to connect schools, businesses and residential customers this fall. Vermont Gas' $2.8 million expansion project was announced at a July 9th ground-breaking ceremony at Franklin Foods in Enosburg Falls with state and local officials on hand for the ground-breaking.
"The extension of natural gas service to Enosburg and Franklin Foods by Vermont Gas Systems is a major development for our local economy," said Tim Smith, executive director of the Franklin County Industrial Development Corporation. "The use of natural gas by Franklin Foods will assist them in their ongoing efforts to be more competitive in a global marketplace."
The pipeline, which will be buried underground, is expected to save local customers as much as $1,500,000 per year while reducing their annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by almost 1,900 pounds. Natural gas currently costs 44% less than fuel oil and 54% less than propane, and it's one of the cleanest energy sources for thermal processes and space heating.
In Vermont, natural gas residential customers can save up to $2,000 per year when compared to fuel oil or propane; eligible low-income Vermont Gas customers can receive an additional 20% discount. The company's long heritage for safe and reliable operations includes its award-winning energy-efficiency programs, which reduce energy use while saving Vermont homes and businesses more than $13 million every year.