We're proud to be constructing a natural gas distribution system that will connect customers to natural gas in the Municipality of Arran-Elderslie, Municipality of Kindcardine and Township of Huron-Kinloss.
Project overview
We are constructing a distribution system to connect customers in Chesley, Paisley, Inverhuron, Tiverton, Kincardine, Lurgan Beach, Point Clark, Ripley, Lucknow and the Bruce Energy Center.
EPCOR's distribution system will consist of 2 components:
- A larger diameter pipeline that will be the backbone of the system and transport gas to each of the communities, approximately 120 km.
- Smaller diameter medium-density polyethylene (MDPE) distribution piping that will be constructed with each of the communities to directly serve homes and businesses, approximately 178 km.
The Ontario Energy Board (OEB) awarded EPCOR the project in April 2018, and approved our Leave to Construct application in July 2019.
Pipeline routes
The pipeline will commence at Dornoch at an interconnection with Union Gas and will extend westerly from Dornoch to the Bruce Energy Center, serving Paisley and Chesley, then extending south to serve Inverhuron, Tiverton, Kincardine Lurgan Beach and Point Clark. The pipeline will then extend east to serve Ripley and Lucknow. The map below illustrates the routing of this pipeline.
The route selection process
When developing route options, our goal is to identify a preferred route with lower levels of overall impact. We consider several factors, including:
- Input from local stakeholders
- Health and safety
- Social impacts
- Environment
- Existing infrastructure
- Use of existing infrastructure space, such as utility corridors and road right-of-ways
- Length of the pipeline and associated costs
- Routing that follows a reasonably direct path between start and end points
- Construction impacts
Timeline
Under our current timeline, we expect to begin connecting our first customers by the end of 2019. In 2020, 2021 and 2022 we will bring more communities onto the natural gas distribution system. We anticipate bringing the full system in-service by the end of 2022. Construction will be completed in phases. At each step, we will notify local stakeholders of construction activities and strive to minimize any potential impacts.
Employment impacts
Contractors and suppliers play a vital role in our ability to do business. Since mobilizing the project in 2019, we have employed an average of 150 local workers each year.
The project team
- EPCOR will operate the natural gas distribution system under the name EPCOR Natural Gas LP.
- Aecon Utilities is the project's design construction partner.
- Stantec Consulting Ltd. supported development of the Environmental Report and all regulatory and permit applications, and is providing environmental monitoring services during construction.
- LandSolutions is a land consulting firm that will support EPCOR in accessing and managing land for the project.
