Three communities in southern Bruce County have selected an Edmonton-based company to take on its natural gas proposal.
The mayors of Kincardine, Huron-Kinloss and Arran-Elderslie announced jointly they have hired EPCOR Utilities to take on the physical work of bringing natural gas to their communities.
Senior Vice President Stephen Stanley says EPCOR has agreed to fund the entire $100-million price tag to construct the pipelines without taxpayer dollars from any of the municipalities.
He says the company will recoup the funds through the rates charged to customers, but points out each property owner is responsible for the costs of converting their appliances to natural gas.
The provincial government recently made more than $200-million available to help with natural gas expansion and Stanley says if those funds come to Bruce County, they will be used to help with conversion costs.
Kincardine Mayor Anne Eadie says she's confident funding will be made available, pointing out provincial officials have been impressed with the natural gas proposal.
"The feedback I have received ... is that [the province] really want natural gas to get to some of the rural areas and with ours being one of the biggest and the preparation we have done, they were most receptive," says Eadie.
While supporters of the natural gas proposal have long touted the potential boost for the local economy, Arran-Elderslie Mayor Paul Eagleson says the biggest beneficiary will be the most vulnerable.
"My main goal from day one was to be able to keep people in their homes. You know, if you have a home in Chesley and you're a single pensioner, it has become extremely difficult to stay in your home with one income. Our heating costs and our winters, it has taken its toll," says Eagleson.
Stanley says EPCOR will immediately begin work on an environmental assessment, which will include public meetings in each municipality in October. He says that work will take about six months, at which point EPCOR will be able to apply to the Ontario Energy Board for approval to create a new utility.
He adds if all goes according to plan, construction on the natural gas pipelines should begin by late 2016 or early 2017.