CENTRE HALL — A Centre Hall supervisor said the coming $2.5 million pipeline project will be a mess when the dirt begins to fly this fall or early next year, but it will be worth it to the residents of the borough and others in adjacent Potter Township — and to the economy of the area.
“It will be a mess when they first put it in, but that is just part of growth. Once it is up and running, I am sure that a lot of residence will be happy to have it,” said supervisor Kenny Strouse. “It will help cut a lot of people’s costs.”
On Jan. 23, the state announced it had awarded a $1 million grant for a natural gas project in Centre Hall that will help residents save money and allow businesses to keep jobs in the area.
The money will go toward a $2.5 million pipeline project that will bring natural gas to Centre Hall. The plan is for the pipeline to come to Centre Hall from Brush Valley Road and then continue down Main Street, Centre Hall supervisor Kenny Strouse. It will then extend toward Hanover Foods on Route 45.
Strouse said that Hanover Foods should be a big beneficiary of the natural gas, and that will help the area economically. This is something that was echoed in statements by Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, R-Bellefonte, and Gov. Tom Wolf.
“This grant will start the process of bringing affordable, domestic and cleaner energy to the residents and employers of rural Centre County,” Benninghoff said. “The goal of this long-desired investment is more jobs for the region and more money in the pockets of hard-working people.”
“The savings and efficiencies resulting in this project will allow Hanover Foods Corporation to retain its current workforce of 150 full-time jobs,” said Wolf in a separate press release.
The grant was announced by Wolf, Benninghoff and state Sen. Jake Corman, R-Benner Township. The state awarded the grant through the Pipeline Investment Program.
SEDA-COG Natural Gas Cooperative will construct a natural gas point of departure station in Centre Hall. Columbia Gas will match the $1 million grant with funds to complete the pipeline. The project will include 20,000 feet of delivery lines that will serve six business and 89 residential units.
“Expanding access of natural gas to this area will help to attract and retain jobs and provide a clean energy option for the residents of these municipalities as well as employers like Hanover Foods,” Corman said in a press release.
