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People on the north side of Merrickville will get gas.
The provincial government will spend $2.46 million to extend a natural-gas pipeline to 67 residents on the north side of the river, allowing them to connect to gas for the first time, local MPP Steve Clark announced Wednesday.
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Clark, who represents Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, said the extension of gas will make life more affordable for the 67 households and businesses that could benefit.
The province estimates the average household could save $250-$1,500 per year in energy costs by switching to natural gas from costlier fuel. Businesses could save up to 30 per cent per year their energy costs.
A plan to deliver natural gas by truck to communities on the north shore of Lake Superior has had its share of twists and turns over the last five years.
With a new gas supplier in place and a repackaged proposal now before the Ontario Energy Board, the communities of Terrace Bay, Schreiber, Marathon, Manitouwadge and Wawa are taking another crack at dipping into a provincial fund to finally bring an alternative fuel to their towns.
Under the banner of Lakeshore Natural Gas, the communities proposed $55-million North Shore Gas Project aims to create a pipeline on wheels by trucking compressed natural gas (CNG) from a facility at Red Rock to community depots for local distribution to an estimated 13,000 customers.
Lakeshore Natural Gas is wholly-owned by Schreiber, Terrace Bay, Marathon, Manitouwadge and Wawa.
Its agreement with Certarus Limited is for the transportation, storage and supply of compressed natural gas (CNG) for the proposed North Shore Gas Project.
Daryl Skworchinski, CAO for the Town of Marathon and president of Lakeshore Natural Gas, said the gas would be decompressed at a Certarus plant in Red Rock, trucked to delivery points in each community, recompressed into natural gas form, then piped through distribution systems that would be built in each town. It s a very safe process. It s utilized quite extensively in the United States, but it will be the first of its kind in Ontario, Skworchinski said.
Deji Elumoye in Abuja
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has hinted of the commitment of the federal government to provide reliable and affordable energy to an average Nigerian.
Speaking yesterday during the virtual roundtable meeting of the Africa Regional Heads of Government Commonwealth Roundtable, which was chaired by His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales, Osinbajo who represented President Muhammadu Buhari stressed that Nigeria was on the path of ensuring more access to affordable, reliable energy for its populace.
He also stated that the nation was transitioning to the use of cleaner energy in line with the net-zero emissions global target, adding however that an end of international funding for gas as a fossil fuel would create dire challenges for gas-producing countries especially in Africa.