Preston County EDA using federal grant to extend gas service to TAZ Hardwoods industrial site
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By David Beard
dbeard@dominionpost.com
MORGANTOWN - The Preston County Economic Development Authority has contracted with Atlanta-based PS Energy Group to extend natural gas service to the county's new industrial site on the former TAZ Hardwoods sawmill property in Hazelton.
The project is intended to help expand access to natural gas for businesses considering expansion or relocation in the area, PS Energy Group said.
In 2000, the company constructed the natural gas pipeline that serves the U.S. Bureau of Prisons' Federal Correctional Complex Hazelton and then the businesses of the adjoining industrial park.
The new extension will build on that existing infrastructure, expanding the pipeline's reach to support additional commercial and industrial development.
Livia Whisenhunt, founder and CEO of PS Energy Group, told The Dominion Post that the extension is 4,600 feet of main line and laterals.
The cost is $4.2 million, she said, paid for through an Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) grant secured by the PCEDA. The extension runs along West Virginia Division of Highway’s right of way.
Construction began Sept. 21, the company said. Crews began working onsite on Nov. 2 and the project is expected to be completed before the end of the year.
Robbie Baylor, executive director of the Preston County EDA, said in a press release, "Access to natural gas is one of the first things manufacturers consider when evaluating a location. PS Energy has been a dependable partner to this county for a generation, and bringing its line to the sawmill property lets us compete for expanding and relocating businesses. This project is an important step in positioning Preston County for long-term economic growth."
Whisenhunt said, "For more than 25 years, PS Energy has been proud to play a role in developing reliable energy infrastructures that support Preston County's businesses and industries. "What began with our original pipeline project in 2000 has grown into a lasting partnership with the county and this latest expansion is an important continuation of that work. We’re grateful for the trust Preston County has placed in our team and we look forward to helping build something that will support growth within the community."