Construction Underway to Expand Access to Natural Gas In Chatham-Kent

CHATHAM-KENT — Ontario's Government is working for the people to lower heating costs, create jobs and make businesses more competitive by expanding access to natural gas in Chatham-Kent and surrounding areas.

 

Bill Walker, Associate Minister of Energy, announced today that construction work has officially begun on two new natural gas transmission pipelines in Chatham-Kent after they were granted approval from the Ontario Energy Board (OEB).

 

“By expanding access to natural gas, our government is helping make life more affordable for businesses and families in Chatham-Kent,” said Associate Minister Walker. “Expanding natural gas access will help make Chatham-Kent more attractive for job creation and new business growth and sends the clear message that Ontario is open for business.”

 

The Chatham-Kent project, developed by Enbridge Gas, will benefit from up to $8 million in eligible funding to expand natural gas access primarily to meet the demands of the growing local greenhouse sector. The municipality estimates the additional natural gas capacity could create up to 1,400 new jobs in the greenhouse industry alone. The average household in Chatham-Kent could also save up to $2,200 per year in energy costs as they switch from costlier fuel sources.

 

The pipelines are expected to be in service as early as the end of 2019.

 

“This will lead to cheaper home heating costs for families and more investment by businesses,” said Lambton-Kent-Middlesex MPP Monte McNaughton. “That’s a double win for the region. I’m proud of our government for initiating this project.”

 

“The construction of this new natural gas line in Chatham-Kent is vital because it allows for the immediate development and expansion of businesses in our community. The work we are doing today ensures future generations of Chatham-Kent residents will have access to important job-making infrastructure,” said Darrin Canniff, Mayor of Chatham-Kent. “I commend everyone involved including the province, Enbridge, and our Chatham-Kent Economic Development team for working together to form a strong partnership that once again proves that our municipality is here for business.” 

 

“This project will invest in much needed natural gas infrastructure to unlock over $260 million of development potential in Chatham-Kent and surrounding areas,” said Cynthia Hansen, President of Enbridge Gas. “We are committed to having this project in service by the end of 2019, so this community can benefit from the added capacity and related benefits this expansion will generate. We’re looking forward to serving the needs of these new and growing commercial and industrial customers in the Chatham-Kent area.”

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.