Six growing Georgia cities get $13 million to upgrade natural gas pipes - Atlanta Business Chronicle

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The upgrades could reduce energy bills for families and businesses in these growing communities.

Six smaller Georgia cities will be getting a combined $13 million from the federal government to upgrade and repair aging natural gas pipes, which are municipally owned.

The improvements, funded by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, are meant to increase safety, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and shrink energy bills for families and businesses in these growing communities.

Regulations have gotten tougher, and technology more expensive, in light of modern safety and climate-change goals. As a result, substantial funding is required for miles and miles of natural gas pipes to meet current standards.

Upgrades to this infrastructure could also help these communities attract businesses and help existing businesses satisfy decarbonization goals. These projects will create more than 150 jobs and reduce about 19.7 metric tons of methane emissions per year across Georgia.

The city of Toccoa is located in northeast Georgia and has grown by about 1.6% in population since 2020, according to the United States Census Bureau.

Toccoa will receive about $8.4 million to replace about 10 miles of leaking mains and pipes. This project will create about 100 jobs and reduce about 7.8 metric tons of methane emissions a year.

The city of Monroe is located in Walton County off of Highway 78 and has grown by about 6.5% in population since 2020. The city will receive about $1.9 million to replace about four miles of pre-code era pipes. The project will create about 30 jobs and reduce about 4.6 metric tons of methane emissions a year.

The city of Winder is located off of Highway 316 between Gwinnett County and Athens-Clarke County and has grown by about 7.4% in population since 2020. The city will receive about $1.6 million to replace about 1.5 miles of old, leak-prone pipe. This will create about 12 jobs and reduce about 1.6 metric tons of methane emissions per year.

The city of Tifton is located in south Georgia, southeast of Albany and right along Interstate-75. The city has grown by about 1.7% in population since 2020. The city will receive over $868,000 to replace distribution pipes and old valves while also adding new ones. This will create about five jobs and reduce about 3.9 metric tons of methane emissions per year.

The city of Perry is located in middle Georgia, south of Macon, and has grown by about 16.5% in population since 2020. The community will receive just over $142,000 to replace about 0.86 miles of older steel pipes and install excess-flow valves. The project will create about six jobs and reduce about 1.8 metric tons of methane emissions per year.

Lastly, the city of Thomasville is located in south Georgia, near the Florida border, and has decreased in population by about 1.7% since 2020. The city will receive about $74,000 for equipment and software that will help with locating pipes and detecting leaks.