Rutland County families and businesses can learn more about the benefits of more affordable, cleaner and safe natural gas at a series of open houses hosted by Vermont Gas between April 30 and May 15.
The Addison-Rutland Natural Gas Project will help local businesses cut their energy bills in half, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 25 percent, and help keep and create more good jobs in the 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.
At the open houses, attendees will have the opportunity to visit various information tables and speak one-on-one with Vermont Gas representatives about the project, potential savings, energy efficiency and other topics. There will not be a formal presentation, but attendees are encouraged to stop in at any time between 5:00-8:00 p.m. to learn more about natural gas, which is currently about half the cost of the propane or fuel oil used by most Vermonters.
Dates and locations for the first three evening open houses in Rutland County:
- Wednesday, April 30, Rutland High School, Rutland
- Thursday, May 8, Otter Valley Union High School, Brandon
- Thursday, May 15, West Rutland Town Hall, West Rutland
Vermont Gas expects to schedule additional open houses in the future.
“Rutland County deserves more affordable energy, a stronger economy, and cleaner regional air made possible by natural gas,” said Eileen Simollardes, vice president and director for the Addison-Rutland Natural Gas Project. “While we’re still very early in the process, we want to answer questions from Rutland County residents and business owners so that we can deliver them the same benefits of natural gas that Chittenden and Franklin counties have enjoyed for decades.”
In December, Phase 1 of the project received a Certificate of Public Good from the Vermont Public Service Board to transport natural gas from Colchester to Middlebury. Phase 2, 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 International Paper 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 3 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.
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