U.S. Announces $392 Million Grants to Modernize Aging Natural Gas Pipelines

SEATTLE (Oil Monster): U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, alongside the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), revealed the allocation of $392 million in grants for 130 projects aimed at repairing aging natural gas pipelines across 26 states. These initiatives, supported by the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, fall under the Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Safety and Modernization (NGDISM) grant program, totaling nearly $1 billion over five years. The primary objective is to modernize community-owned natural gas distribution pipes, mitigating risks associated with pipeline leaks, reducing air pollution, and alleviating costs for ratepayers.

Secretary Buttigieg emphasized the hazardous nature of gas pipeline leaks, their environmental impact, and the financial burden they impose on families. The grants aim to aid communities in modernizing gas pipelines, ensuring safety, affordability, and environmental responsibility.

Events will be conducted nationwide to announce grant funding to over 65 communities, commencing in North Carolina. PHMSA Deputy Administrator Tristan Brown outlined specific grants for projects in Rocky Mount and Wilson, highlighting their impact on pipeline replacement, methane reduction, and job creation.

PHMSA will continue to announce grant recipients in the following weeks and will provide updates via social media and its website.

The NGDISM program attracted substantial demand, with nearly $1.8 billion in applications for the initial $200 million in grants, illustrating the widespread necessity for infrastructure investments. The selected projects, spanning fiscal years 2023 and 2024, will benefit disadvantaged communities, including underserved rural and urban areas. These endeavors will collectively repair, rehabilitate, or replace nearly 500 miles of pipe, resulting in a significant reduction of methane pollution emissions.

The projects align with the Biden-Harris Administration’s U.S. Methane Emissions Reduction Action Plan, emphasizing methane emission reduction, public health protection, innovation promotion, energy cost reduction, and job creation.

Additionally, PHMSA introduced a new tool to facilitate the Federal environmental review process for projects, aiming to streamline repairs and minimize environmental impact.

President Biden’s agenda prioritizes infrastructure development, economic growth, environmental protection, and job creation. The NGDISM grant program reflects these priorities by promoting safety, affordability, and environmental sustainability in natural gas distribution.

For further details on the NGDISM grant program, interested parties can visit the provided link.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration oversees regulations for the safe operation of the nation’s pipeline transportation system and hazardous materials shipments. More information is available on their website.

Courtesy:  www.fcfreepresspa.com