In early January, officials with the Pennyrile Regional Energy Agency officially named its planned 53-mile natural gas pipeline the “Pennyrile Energy Corridor” — hoping to clarify what’s to become a natural gas pipeline for Lyon, Caldwell, Trigg, Christian and Todd counties.
Monday afternoon, members of the Pennyrile Area Development District voted in favor of supporting this nomenclature and this effort — one that already has a $30 million headstart on state funding for a $120-to-$150 million project.
A “nay” vote came from Christian County Judge-Executive Jerry Gilliam.
Speaking on behalf of the project, Tim Thomas noted the PREA board had decided there may be some public “misconceptions” about its construction and purpose.
Running from Lamasco in Lyon County, through southern Christian County and into Guthrie, he further noted the pipeline could also expand further than a planned 16-inch apparatus, as interest and demand grows.
That original $30 million tranche, Thomas added, is going a long way in this initial phase.
Thomas said a changing administration in Washington, D.C., might actually bring some benefit — as natural gas supporters step into office.
The goal of this pipeline, Thomas affirmed, is to “attract heavy industry” and “good high-paying jobs” — benefiting not just Todd County, but the region as a whole.
The resolution also asked for PADD to both endorse and encourage efforts by federal and state legislative officials to secure necessary funding for the project.
A lawsuit against the pipeline, filed last year in Trigg County Circuit Court, remains in litigation.
