February 26, 2015
1679
The Municipalities of Kincardine, Huron-Kinloss and Arran-Elderslie have released a report that estimates the economic and environmental benefits of expanding natural gas distribution services to their communities.
The report, prepared by Elenchus Research Associates Inc., concludes that annual energy cost-savings in the residential commercial, agricultural, industrial and municipal sectors could total $27-million per year once the new gas utility is fully up and running.
The report also estimates that annual carbon-dioxide emissions could be reduced by 20,356 kilograms per year by switching from the currently-available fuels to cleaner, cheaper natural gas.
"The Elenchus report provides additional important information in support of expanding natural gas to our area," says Kincardine mayor Anne Eadie.
"The natural gas business case we released to the public last fall shows that a new gas utility could be viable for our area," says Arran-Elderslie mayor Paul Eagleson. "This latest report underscores the conclusions and recommendations in the business case."
"In addition to the direct economic and environmental benefits described in the Elenchus report, we know there will be other indirect benefits to our communities," says Huron-Kinloss mayor Mitch Twolan. "By finally having access to natural gas, we will remove an impediment to development in our area by 'levelling the playing field' with neighbouring municipalities that already have gas. Having no access to natural gas clearly is an impediment to new investment and jobs in our communities."
Feb. 17, energy minister Bob Chiarelli wrote to the Ontario Energy Board, reiterating that the province is fully committed to expanding natural gas in order to service more communities in rural and northern Ontario. The province has also announced $230-million in funding for gas expansions.
"Our next step is for Kincardine, Huron-Kinloss and Arran-Elderslie to jointly issue a Request of Information solicitation aimed at canvassing the marketplace for potential partners and operators of a new natural gas utility in the area," says Eadie "We expect to receive information proposals from multiple potential partners by late spring."
To read the entire Elenchus report, click here.
Written ByLiz Dadson is the founder and editor of the Kincardine Record and has been in the news business since 1986.
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