Vermont Gas kicked off a community engagement and planning process Wednesday for Phase Three of the Addison-Rutland Natural Gas Project.At the first of three open houses, Vermont Gas employees met one-on-one with local residents at “topic tables” to learn about converting to natural gas, energy efficiency and how natural gas can help families and employers cut their heating bills by about 50 percent.
“It was a pleasure to meet with folks from the Rutland area and start the discussion about how natural gas can help them save money, strengthen the economy and improve the environment,” said Jim Sinclair, vice president of sales, marketing and service for Vermont Gas. “People who attended Wednesday’s open house were eager to talk about our project and how Vermont Gas can help enhance the economic vitality of the Rutland County region.”
In addition to reducing Vermont’s reliance on foreign oil and propane, the project will save towns money by reducing energy costs while paying millions in property taxes that can be used for public schools and other local municipal services.
Dates and locations for the next open houses in Rutland County are:
- Thursday, May 8, Otter Valley Union High School, Brandon (5:00-8:00 p.m.)
- Thursday, May 15, West Rutland Town Hall, West Rutland (5:00-8:00 p.m.)
Vermont Gas expects to schedule additional open houses, and launch a multi-town working group to discuss routes that will maximize the economic and environmental benefits as planning for Phase Three moves forward.
In December, Phase One of the project received a Certificate of Public Good from the Vermont Public Service Board to transport natural gas from Colchester to Middlebury. Phase Two, which is currently being reviewed by the Public Service Board, will bring cleaner, more affordable natural gas to parts of Middlebury, Cornwall and Shoreham, and then to the International Paper Mill in Ticonderoga, N.Y.
By extending natural gas service to the mill, Vermonters will save $45 million of the cost to deliver natural gas to Rutland by 2020 – 15 years sooner than would otherwise be possible – and help keep good-paying jobs in the region, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality throughout the Champlain Valley.
Phase Three of the Addison-Rutland Natural Gas Project will bring natural gas to homeowners and businesses in Rutland County.
Vermont Gas serves almost 50,000 customers in Franklin and Chittenden counties and is currently working to expand service into Addison and Rutland counties through the Addison-Rutland Natural Gas Project. The company’s long heritage for safe and reliable operations includes its award-winning energy-efficiency programs, which reduce energy use while saving $13 million annually for homes and businesses. For more information about the Addison-Rutland Natural Gas Project, visit www.addisonrutlandnaturalgas.com.
Source: VGS 5.1.2014