Nov. 22—MUNDYS CORNER, Pa. — A new five-mile natural gas line will bring about 120 new jobs to the Jackson Township Business Park and encourage more employers to locate there.
State Sen. Wayne Langerholc, R-Richland Township, on Tuesday announced the approval of a $1.2 million grant to provide natural gas service to the Jackson Township Business Park in Cambria County and nearby residents.
"This gas line is vital to our business park," Jackson Township Supervisor Bruce Baker said on Tuesday.
"Hopefully, it will give great added value to our industrial park and be a big draw for us."
Waste Management of Pennsylvania has purchased a lot in the business park for its Laurel Highlands Hauling Co. headquarters and a compressed natural gas fueling station. The company is interested in converting its truck fleet to compressed natural gas.
Announcing the grant, Langerholc said the new facility will create 120 full-time jobs and fuel a fleet of about 90 trucks with compressed natural gas.
"This project will bring immediate jobs to Cambria County and make the Jackson Township Business Park more attractive to other employers," Langerholc said. "I am proud my advocacy delivered this significant investment into the 35th Senatorial District."
The funding from the Commonwealth Financing Authority's Pipeline Investment Program will allow Jackson Township, along with Peoples Natural Gas, to install a compression station and extend the natural gas line by 25,777 feet from Benshoff Hill Road to the business park located on Laurel Ridge Road near U.S. Route 22. This gas line will also provide 60 residential homeowners and one commercial customer along the route with natural gas service.
Baker said People's Natural Gas worked with the township for more than two years to develop the new line. He singled out Jason Greenblatt of People's for coordinating the development effort.
"We are excited for the opportunity to extend our pipelines to the Jackson Township Business Park and help Waste Management of Pennsylvania grow," People's Vice President Luke Ravenstahl said. "Converting diesel trucks to clean-burning natural gas reduces vehicle emissions by 20%, and lowers costs at the pump significantly. We look forward to connecting with other residents and businesses interested in reducing their energy bills by switching to natural gas."
It will be built primarily along township roads, including Benshoff Hill Road, Mile Hill Road and Chickory Hill Road.
"They will be boring most of the gas line extension," Baker said. "We don't expect any traffic delays."