On July 24, the Department of Community and Economic Development announced it awarded a $501,136 grant to UGI Utilities to construct a new natural gas pipeline to serve the Little Leaf farms greenhouse in Banks Township, Carbon County.

The total project cost of the project is $1,02,272 and UGI Utilities will provide matching funds in the amount of $501,136.

The grant was made through the Pipeline Investment Program that provides grants to construct the last few miles of natural gas distribution lines to business parks and existing manufacturing and industrial enterprises, which will result in the creation of new economic base jobs in the commonwealth while providing access to natural gas for residents.

Applicants eligible for PIPE funding include businesses, economic development organizations, hospitals, municipalities, and school districts.

The grant is for the installation of 3,000 feet of natural gas pipeline that will allow for additional capacity to support the future expansion of Little Leaf from 20 acres of greenhouse to 60 acres of greenhouse.

Little Leaf uses their greenhouses for Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) lettuce growing and this increase in production would result in at least 300 new jobs for the local community and increase the natural gas capacity through the construction of a new gas regulation station for the Smithfield Gateway Center in Smithfield Township.

Visit DCED’s Pipeline Investment Program webpage for more information on this program.

PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:

-- Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - July 15 to 22;  8 More New Conventional Well Abandonments  [PaEN]

-- Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - July 22 to 28  [PaEN] 

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices/Opportunities To Comment - July 29  [PaEN]

-- DEP Posted 47 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In July 29 PA Bulletin  [PaEN] 

NewsClips This Week:

-- LancasterOnline: Study Finds Radioactive Materials In PA Waterways Near Treatment Plants Linked With Oil & Gas Industry Waste

-- StateImpactPA - Rachel McDevitt: Environmental Quality Board Dismisses Petition To Raise Well Plugging Bond Amounts For Conventional Oil & Gas Drillers

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: Proposed Oil & Gas Waste Injection Well Riles Community In Fayette County

-- Warren Times: Proposed Oil & Gas Waste Injection Well In Fayette County Riles Community

-- TribLive: Olympus Energy Proposes Another Shale Gas Drilling Well Pad, Pipeline In West Deer Township, Allegheny County

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Allegheny County Health Dept.  Begins Appeal Hearing On Invenergy Natural Gas Power Plant Proposed In Elizabeth Twp.

-- NRDC: PJM Electric Grid Operator Report Confirms Blackout Danger From Poor Maintenance At Natural Gas Power Plants

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak/Jonathan Salant: White House Pushing To Reduce Methane Emissions From Oil & Gas Wells; Methane Accounts For 12% Of All Greenhouse Gas Emissions In PA

-- Beaver County Times Guest Essay: Here’s What’s Happening As A Result Of Shell Petrochemical Plant’s [$5 Million] Fine - By Daniel Rossi-Keen

-- Post-Gazette Guest Essay: Pittsburgh’s Problem With Shell Petrochemical Plant’s Plastic Nurdles - By Jack Doyle

Related Articles This Week:

-- Comments Submitted On Proposed Roulette Oil & Gas Wastewater Injection Well In Potter County By Save Our Streams PA Show Principals Have Been Involved In Abandoning 8 Previous Injection Wells  [PaEN]

-- DEP Signs $660,000 Penalty Agreement With Sunoco To Resolve More Violations During The Construction Of Mariner East Natural Gas Liquids Pipeline In 9 Counties; Penalties Now Total Nearly $31 Million Just From DEP  [PaEN]

-- University Of Pittsburgh School Of Public Health Will Release Results Of Shale Gas Development Health Impact Study On Aug. 15 In Washington County  [PaEN]

-- DCED Gives UGI Utilities A $501,136 Grant For A New Natural Gas Pipeline To Serve Little Leaf Greenhouse In Carbon County  [PaEN]

[Posted: July 24, 2023]

7/31/2023