SaskEnergy Unveils La Ronge Natural Gas Plan

SaskEnergy Unveils La Ronge Natural Gas Plan

Monday, October 30, 2006 at 14:22

 

 

Residents of La Ronge and Weyakwin are expected to finally have natural gas service by the spring of 2008.

 

SaskEnergy Minister Andrew Thomson was in La Ronge this morning to announce an improved financing plan from the provincial government.

 

The government is prepared to pick up $14 million of the anticipated $20.1-million price tag to construct a natural gas pipeline from Montreal Lake to La Ronge.

 

The rest will come from individual businesses and homeowners through an average hook-up cost of $4,700 — down from the $6,500 SaskEnergy was asking for when negotiations broke down seven years ago.

 

Thomson is confident the province will get the 500 customers it needs to sign up for this to happen, especially since an improved financing plan is also being made available — one that allows residents to pay their share over 10 years through their SaskEnergy bill.

 

Longtime natural gas advocate Alice Tateryn doesn’t think the new start-up figure will be much of an obstacle for most residents. She notes Anglin Lake residents agreed to pay $4,500 each when they got natural gas service a few years ago.

 

Northern Affairs Minister Joan Beatty says the natural gas expansion into this region of the North will have a huge impact. In addition to the anticipated 40 per cent reduction in home and business heating costs, Beatty notes jobs will be created through the pipeline construction — employment opportunities she says the Lac La Ronge Indian Band has already started to inquire about.

 

Construction of the new pipeline is expected to begin next year.

 

Premier Lorne Calvert is expected to be in La Ronge this Friday to help kickoff the sign-up campaign.

 

The organized lobby effort for natural gas in La Ronge began in 1996.