More than 66 miles of cast iron pipeline will be replaced over five years to reduce methane leaks
Funding made possible by Casey and Boyle-backed infrastructure law
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) and U.S. Representative Brendan Boyle (D-PA-2) announced that Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) will receive federal funding to help replace more than 66 miles of old cast iron natural gas pipes with modern materials to reduce gas leaks. The project builds on recent funding awards for additional pipeline replacement and will, taken together with those recent awards, create 120 jobs and save families an average of $250 per household on energy costs. This funding comes from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) and was made possible by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
“Thanks to the infrastructure law, we are making game-changing investments to make our communities safer. This funding will replace and modernize miles of natural gas pipeline to lower energy costs and protect Philadelphia neighborhoods from dangerous methane leaks,” said Senator Casey. “This project is another key example of how modernizing our Commonwealth’s infrastructure creates jobs, brings costs down for families, and keeps Pennsylvanians safe.”
"I am proud to help deliver this funding for my district. Working with Sen Casey and others, we were able to pass the historic Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Now, funding from this law is making a significant improvement to the aging infrastructure of Philadelphia and the region beyond. The replacement of these gas pipes will ensure a more secure transportation of hazardous materials that are essential to our daily lives. In addition to creating hundreds of jobs, this project will be the first of many in the future to bring Philadelphia's aging infrastructure into the 21st century," said Representative Boyle.
The PHMSA Natural Gas Distribution and Infrastructure Safety and Modernization (NGDISM) program is a first-of-its kind grant program to help improve public safety, protect public health, and reduce methane emissions from natural gas distribution pipes in historically disadvantaged communities. Leaky natural gas pipes increase energy costs and cause extraneous methane emissions that are dangerous to communities and the environment. This funding will help Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) complete an effort to replace more than 66 miles of publicly owned cast-iron natural gas pipe with new, polyethylene materials. The project will create 120 jobs in Philadelphia, save families an average of $250 per household on energy costs, and reduce methane emissions by more than 300 metric tons annually.
PGW has received a total of $125,000,000 to replace over 66 miles of cast-iron pipeline across Philadelphia.
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