Norwich gets $10 million in federal grants to replace aging gas mains

Matt Grahn, The Bulletin
Updated ·4 min read

NORWICH — In recent years, Norwich Public Utilities has started multiple large upgrade projects, ranging from the Wastewater Treatment Plant on Hollyhock Island to replacing water lines in customer homes. Now, the utility will be replacing aging gas mains throughout the city.

Norwich Public Utilities announced that it’s getting $10 million in federal funding Wednesday to help replace 10.1 miles of cast iron pipes for natural gas with 9.04 miles of high-density polyethylene pipe. This pipe is less prone to leaking and easier to work with, said Norwich Public Utilities General Manager Chris LaRose.

The funding comes from a series of grants, totaling $196 million, from the Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Safety and Modernization grant program, from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), as a part of President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law from 2021.  There were 37 grants across 19 states for the first round, according to a U.S. Department of Transportation press release.

This grant program is a ‘first of its kind’ program, signifying collaboration between public officials, public utilities, and labor unions, PHMSA Deputy Director Tristan Brown said.

Chief Investigator Mitch Brown and Deputy Administrator Tristan Brown of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration stand beside NPU General Manager Chris LaRose, as he accepts $10 million in federal funding to help replace gas mains in the city.
Chief Investigator Mitch Brown and Deputy Administrator Tristan Brown of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration stand beside NPU General Manager Chris LaRose, as he accepts $10 million in federal funding to help replace gas mains in the city.

Norwich Public Utilities’ ask in the grant application was $21.597 million, so the awarded funds cover only part of the work. The bid process for finding contractors should start in the coming weeks, once NPU fully knows the grants' rules for the bidding process, LaRose said.

For Norwich residents, the new lines means replacing the degrading infrastructure in underserved urban and rural communities that poses potential environmental and safety risks, and leaking global warming-causing methane, Brown said.

“Across America, old natural gas pipes, some installed in the 1800s, or here in the early 1900s, pose a higher risk of injury, and tragically, fatalities,” he said.

For the NPU employees, the new lines will mean easier maintenance and fewer leaks, LaRose said.

While this is an opportunity to improve infrastructure, and to protect the environment and the public, it’s also an opportunity to create jobs, said Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz.

“Not just any jobs, but good paying jobs where a prevailing wage will be paid to our union brothers and sisters,” she said.

Norwich Public Utilities General Manager Chris LaRose talks with U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney in front of an NPU truck Wednesday. This was after the utility accepted $10 million in federal funding to replace natural gas pipes throughout Norwich.
Norwich Public Utilities General Manager Chris LaRose talks with U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney in front of an NPU truck Wednesday. This was after the utility accepted $10 million in federal funding to replace natural gas pipes throughout Norwich.

Gas main replacement to be done by NPU and subcontractors

While NPU has three of its own gas crews, it will be bidding for additional crews and subcontracting out for other services, like paving and lawncare. There’s isn’t an exact number of how many people this project will employ, but 20 to 50 is a rough estimate, LaRose said.

“We’re going to bid competitively for this, so we hope we get good, qualified trades people for the work,” he said.

The work itself will take until 2027. There are five sections of the city impacted by this work, and the utility will do one a year. The first two phases, 2.09 miles running from North Main Street to around NFA, and 2.25 running from  North Main Street to around Asylum St. are covered by Wednesday’s announced funding, costing $4.74 million and $5.04 million respectively, according to a Norwich Public Utilities press release.

The remaining three phases are 1.14 miles running from Norwichtown to the East Main Street area, 1.78 miles running from Taftville to the Shipping Street area, and 1.78 miles in Laurel Hill. These sections will cost $3.12 million, $4.35 million, and $4.38 million respectively, according to the press release.

When all the new pipe is in, it is expected to last for a very long time. Norwich has used the high density polyethylene pipe in parts of the natural gas system since the 1970s, and still works well, LaRose said.

An example of the high-density polyethylene pipe NPU will be installing.
An example of the high-density polyethylene pipe NPU will be installing.

By contrast, some of the cast iron natural gas mains predate NPU, which was established in 1904. Particularly, there is a gas line on North Main Street that was converted from being a compressed air line originally meant for an old mill, LaRose said.

Norwich Public Utilities surveys its mains annually to repair leaks and other issues. The cast iron mains get additional surveying during the winter months. Now, crews can spend more time replacing the mains than fixing the old ones. Replacing the older mains will also either lower gas rates or prevent future increases, LaRose said.

The next round of the Natural Gas Distribution grant is in May, with $392 million in funds available to the entire country. NPU will be applying for more funds from it again, LaRose said.

This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: NPU gets $10 million in federal funds to replace aging gas mains