Canada: Ontario to expand natural gas infrastructure

Access to natural gas remains a critical factor for the development of more greenhouse and agricultural operations throughout Ontario. While the greenhouse industry in the Leamington area recently got access to more natural gas via the new Union Gas pipeline project that was approved last year, many other operations in other rural Ontario areas are still forced to look at alternatives.

The recent announcement of the new Natural Gas Grant Program and Rural Economic Development (RED) Program might bring some change on the horizon. The programs, announced by the Ontario government earlier this week at the Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) conference, will provide support in order to develop more access to natural gas for greenhouses and farmers in Ontario.

The program provides $100 million in grants to support the building of natural gas infrastructure and enable more communities to access a lower cost energy source.

The Ontario Federation of Agriculture is encouraged by the government’s recognition of the importance of expanding natural gas to rural Ontario with the Natural Gas Grant Program. “Natural gas is the most important investment that will give rural Ontarians, including farms and businesses, the competitive edge to drive growth,” says OFA president Keith Currie in a news release. “OFA looks forward to working with the government to develop a real program to secure natural gas access throughout rural Ontario. This will require a longer term commitment to rural investment and we’re working to make this happen.”

Applications for the Natural Gas Grant Program will be available in spring 2017.