In a Monday update with the Pennyrile Area Development District, Eston Glover made it known that all is not quiet on the south western Kentucky front.
Chair of the Pennyrile Regional Energy Agency, the 53-mile gas pipeline scheduled to run all the way from Lamasco, down the northern side of I-24, along the Kentucky/Tennessee border and into Guthrie remains on schedule — and according to Glover should connect from ANR’s powerful 30-inch intersection to Novelis infrastructure by December 30, 2025.
At present, less than 20 property owners remain in discussions for the imminent domain and contractual obligations of the project, and Glover added that line engineers believe it will take about nine months to complete the potentially $115 million energy highway.
As an independent municipality and intrastate matter, Glover confirmed that homeowners, businesses, farmers, industrial parks and other municipalities, even in northwest Tennessee, will be able to connect to the line — and that the energy is also transportable to other localities in Kentucky.
Furthermore, Glover said per agreements, payments for land have been delivered within 10 days of contracts.
And the agreements have been more than just cash considerations.
Each landowner, however, is required to cede a 30-foot permanent easement for the lifetime of the pipeline, and a 60-foot temporary berth during the construction process.
This is so engineers, and future repair workers, can have access to the plat.
While many have been enthused and interested in the gas line’s arrival, Glover said some have shown trepidation about its construction.
Environmentally, Glover also confirmed that by June, there will have to a near-guarantee that habitats for bats and snail darters won’t be disturbed in and after the construction process.
Otherwise, construction will not begin, and he and the seven total PREA board members want the project to be ecologically sound.
While this project idea did stem from discussions around Novelis and Guthrie 11-to-12 years ago, Glover said it really took shape behind a Guthrie/Trenton interlocal agreement — patterned after the friendly efforts behind the Logan/Todd Regional Water Commission.
Glover also noted the project is nothing but a pipe dream without bipartisan conversations between Governor Andy Beshear and 16th District Representative and Appropriations/Revenue Chair Jason Petrie — who brought a finish line to the campaign with an up-front $30 million jumpstart.
Any individual homeowners or businesses that want a tap can buy into the process now at the cost of material only, but once hot, Glover warned it would cost almost five times more. Landowners along the line also get full jurisdiction as to where the turned dirt, boulders and rocks go on their property.
No employees currently exist with the project, but Glover said that may change in the future. Several contractors, including D2 Energy and Mike McGhee, have vested interest in its success, while Todd County Attorney Jeff Traughber serves as a local liaison and litigator.
For more information, visit https://pennyrileenergy.com.
