The Lucknow Sentinel, 2015-09-30, Page 88 Lucknow Sentinel • Wednesday, September 30, 2015
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EPCOR to bring natural gas to Kincardine,
Arran-Elderslie, Huron -Kinloss
Darryl Coote
Kincardine News
EPCOR Utilities Inc. will
carry a $100 million natu-
ral gas project into south-
ern Bruce County by 2016.
The company was cho-
sen by the municipalities
of Kincardine, Arran-
Elderslie and Huron -Kin-
loss to bring natural gas to
the communities, which
are the last in the region
to obtain the servicing
that has impacted devel-
opment and energy costs.
The respective mayors
jointly announced the
venture September 21,
2015 at the Municipality
of Kincardine administra-
tion centre, with senior
members of the Edmon-
ton -based company.
"This really is a historic
announcement not only
for the three municipali-
ties, but for Ontario," said
J. Mark Rodger, partner of
the Borden Ladner Ger-
vais law firm and energy
consultant to the munici-
palities. "EPCOR will be a
new entrant into the natu-
ral gas market in Ontario.
It's something we believe
the province and the
Ontario Energy Board will
welcome because it
shows we've harnessed a
competitive process to
select that proponent:'
The unanimous deci-
sion was made last week
by the three communities
following a six-month can-
vassing of the market for
potential suitors from
within Canada and the US.
EPCOR was selected
from a shortlist of six
potential developers.
"We are very pleased to
have selected Edmonton -
based EPCOR Utilities
Inc. as the successful pro-
ponent to bring natural
gas to our South Bruce
communities," Kincardine
Mayor Anne Eadie said
from the public hall at the
Kincardine Municipal
Administration Centre.
Construction of the $
100 -million project is
expected to begin between
Darryl Coote/Kincardine News
EPCOR utilities has been selected by the municipalities
of Kincardine, Arran-Elderslie and Huron -Kinloss to bring
a $100 million natural gas project to their communities.
Pictured L -R: EPCOR Vice President Karim Kassam, EPCOR
Senior Vice President Stephen Stanley, Arran-Elderslie
mayor Paul Eagleson, Huron -Kinloss mayor Mitch Twolan,
Borden Ladner Gervais partner J. Mark Rodger and
Kincardine mayor Anne Eadie.
late 2016 and early 2017. October 17 in Kincardine.
All infrastructure costs will EPCOR hopes to have a
be paid for byEPCOR,eas- website live by the first
ing taxpayers concems the meeting so residents can
project would drain public view the project's process.
coffers. Kassam said EPCOR will
EPCOR will now pre- be "very, very active" with
pare a natural gas utility the three communities to
proposal to be submitted help them access govern -
within the next sixmonths ment grants to assist
to the Ontario Energy homeowners with the con -
Board for approval. version to natural gas.
The key document for "The province has com-
the application is the Envi- mitted $230 million in
ronmental Impact Assess- funding for natural gas
ment, which EPCOR Vice expansion into communi-
President Karim Kassam ties like ours," said Arran -
said will begin now with Elderslie Mayor Paul
those in charge of the Eagleson. "We will con-
assessment
on-
assessment to be tinue to meet with the
appointed tomorrow. province to pursue pro -
They will be onsite work- vincial funding to help
ing, he said, immediately. our residents, business
The municipality -owned and farms with the cost of
utility companywill also be switching from expensive
seeking commitments electricity, oil and pro -
from large industrial cus- pane over the natural gas."
tomersinthearea. A lack of natural gas
"We're actually going to has been a major impact
start this afternoon with on manufacturing, resi-
mayors of the three com- dential and commercial
munitiestakingusaround properties in the area
... and next week we will due to ballooning energy
actually start door knocking costs in recent years.
these places because we "Access to natural gas
have apreliminarybusiness brings significant benefits
plan which we are actually in terms of costs, energy
going to tell them how procurement, economic
much it's going to cost to activity, investment and
bringnatural gas," he said. greater choice for con -
They will also move to sumers in the area," said
establish a community EPCOR Senior Vice Presi-
presence to engage the dent Stephen Stanley.
public on this project. The announcement
Public information comes five years after the
open houses will be held project was first spear -
October 15 in Chesley, headed by the Municipal -
October 16 in Ripley and ity of Kincardine council.
Multicultural Association of Perth -Huron achieves independence
United Way Perth Huron makes
announcement
Earlier than expected, the Way Perth Huron. The origi-
Multicultural Association of nal Memorandum of
Perth -Huron has achieved Understanding anticipated
independence from United the relationship lasting until
October 2016; however the
Association is now, or will
soon be, operated by an
independent board of
directors. We wish them all
the best as they move
forward.