Running from Guthrie along the Kentucky-Tennessee state line and all the way to Lamasco, a 53-mile natural gas pipeline is on the way for the Pennyrile — one that could forever change the region’s industrial profile.
During a Wednesday morning visit to the Logan-Todd Regional Water Commission and the Elkton Rotary Club, Governor Andy Beshear and noted regional dignitaries unveiled what’s to be a 53-mile spindle of infrastructure that will service Todd, Christian, Trigg, Lyon and Caldwell counties — and perhaps others in northwest Tennessee and east of Guthrie, who could be interested in new power sources.
Along with Beshear came a $30 million check from the state’s biennium budget; one the governor said wouldn’t have been made possible without Rep. Jason Petrie.
With this pipeline comes the beginning of the Pennyrile Regional Energy Agency, which will be headed up by its chair, Eston Glover, and a strong regional board comprised of Gary Traughber, John Stahl, Johnny Knuckles, Deana Power, Jimmy Turner, Judge-Executive Todd Mansfield and John Traughber.
Glover noted the organization’s intent will be to attack unserved and underserved parts of the region, while trying to attract other industries and support current infrastructure.
Following from the state line up the I-24 corridor, Glover praised three specific details that also helped bring this project to fruition: interlocal agreements with cities of Trenton and Guthrie, a sincere business partnership and with ANR’s nationwide pipeline, and the massive development of Novelis — which needs the pipeline to help power its $7 million investment into Todd County.
Beshear agreed.
As independent operators of this natural gas, Glover added that PREA won’t be infringing on other franchises for service — but instead will be looking to fill out this spine of natural gas at a $115 million cost.
Mansfield noted the governor’s visits to Todd County — four, now, since he took office in December 2019 — have only brought prosperity and promise to west Kentucky.
The $30 million from the governor’s budget will be doled out in two payments — $15 million in each of the next two fiscal years — and only adds to the more than $850 million in business investments and 1,000-plus jobs created in the Pennyrile over the last 24 months.
Unable to attend because of chairing duties in Frankfort, Petrie wrote in a statement that he was “extremely pleased” to see this region take advantage of a pipeline project for natural gas — because it gives answers to “quality-of-life” issues in the area. He also wrote that projects like this “position the area for future economic development opportunities,” and that he was “glad” to see this project included in the draft of the state budget.
Also, before Beshear departed from Guthrie and Elkton, John Walton of the Todd County Industrial Foundation presented a $5,000 collection of local dollars intended for the people of eastern Kentucky dealing with flood damage — as well as some Todd County barbecue.
Beshear visits Elkton Rotary Club:
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