Recently, the Commonwealth Financing authority approved the SEDA-COG Natural Gas Cooperative’s PIPE (Pipeline Investment Program) grant application for $105,497 to be used toward purchase and installation of an LNG tank at the Unipar facility in Milroy, Mifflin County.
These funds are to be combined with additional grants to facilitate the purchase and installation of the tank and related piping and equipment by early 2022.
Many areas of central Pennsylvania don’t have access to natural gas delivery pipelines, mainly due to their rural nature. To get natural gas to prospective customers, the only alternative is to deploy a “virtual pipeline” approach – delivery of compressed or liquefied natural gas by vehicle. For Unipar, there’s no pipeline close by, and it would be too expensive to connect to the closest one. Through LNG delivery via the virtual pipeline method, Unipar will save at least 50% over their current cost of propane. With less energy costs, their expansion plans and hiring of additional workers will be made more affordable.
Don Kiel, Executive Director and Secretary, SEDA-COG Natural Gas Cooperative, Inc, says, “We hope that this project will serve as a model for development of similar projects elsewhere in our service area – there are a number of similar regions where this approach could fit.”
Special thanks to Congressman Fred Keller, Sen. Jake Corman, and Rep. Kerry Benninghoff who provided letters of support.
SEDA-COG is a community and economic development agency in Lewisburg and is one of seven Local Development Districts in Pennsylvania. SEDA-COG enhances the quality of life and economic advantage for residents and businesses in the 11 central Pennsylvania counties through its vital partnerships and initiatives.
For more information, please contact Elaine Stauder, communications coordinator, SEDA-Council of Governments, at 570-522-7429 or estauder@seda-cog.org
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