DCED Invests $1.4 Million To Expand Natural Gas Service To Customers In Bradford, Somerset County

On March 18, Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Rick Siger announced the investment of $1,448,002 in two projects to expand natural gas service to customers in Bradford and Somerset County through the Pipeline Investment Program.

Funding was awarded to these projects--

-- Bradford County – $877,918 grant to Leatherstocking Gas Company, LLC, to construct a new gas pipeline through Wyalusing Borough. This project will bring natural gas to 110 residential households and 60 commercial facilities including Arrow United Industries, an HVAC manufacturing company.

-- Somerset County – $570,084 grant to Rockwood Area School District for the extension of natural gas service to the school’s facilities in Rockwood Borough. This project will remove environmental issues associated with the current heating system and provide potential service to unconnected homes and businesses including ASSA ABLOY, a security door manufacturer, and Rockwood Casualty Insurance, the fire department, as well as seven other businesses.

The Pipeline Investment Program, administered by the Commonwealth Financing Authority, provides grants to construct the last few miles of natural gas distribution lines to business parks and existing manufacturing and industrial enterprises, which will result in the creation of new economic base jobs in the Commonwealth while providing access to natural gas for residents. 

Applicants eligible for PIPE funding include businesses, economic development organizations, hospitals, municipalities, and school districts.

Click Here for the DCED announcement.

Related Articles This Week:

-- PUC: Deadly West Reading Chocolate Factory Explosion Prompts PUC Safety Complaint Against UGI Proposing $2,576,627 In Penalties  [PaEN] 

-- PUC Schedules 10 Hearings On Proposed UGI Utilities 8.05% Natural Gas Distribution Rate Increase Starting March 30  [PaEN] 

-- PUC Sets Hearings On Proposed National Fuel Gas 7.4% Natural Gas Distribution Rate Increase Starting March 31  [PaEN] 

NewsClips:

-- AP: PUC Seeks $2.6 Million In Penalties For Deadly 2023 Chocolate Factory Natural Gas Explosion In Reading 

-- PA Capital-Star: Pain Of Soaring Gasoline, Diesel, Heating Oil, Propane Prices Compounded By Electricity, Natural Gas Increases Across Pennsylvania

-- Scranton Times: Advocacy Groups, Constituents Rally In Favor Of Affordable Energy [PDF of Article]

-- Bloomberg: Attacks On Qatar LNG Natural Gas Facilities Make Worst Nightmare A Reality Leaving Buyers Scrambling For Supplies [American Customers Must Now Compete For Their Own US Gas As Prices Spike] 

-- Bloomberg: Oil And Natural Gas Prices Jump As Strikes On Gulf Facilities Escalate Threatening Long-Term Damage  

-- Food & Water Watch Blog: President’s War Against Iran Exposes The Lie Of How ‘Energy Independence’ Based On Oil & Natural Gas Will Lower Prices For Consumers - Prices Are  Unbreakably Linked To International Markets As War Price Spikes Again Show 

-- Inside Climate News: Iran War Shows That Doubling Down On Oil/Natural Gas Is ‘Delusional,’ UN Climate Chief Says 

[Posted: March 19, 2026]  PA Environment Digest