A new agreement between New Canaan and Yankee Gas likely would see natural gas come to the area of South Avenue at Farm Road next summer, with a requirement that the utility bring its cost-saving service downtown within five years, officials say.
After stirring interest among some businesses and residents, Yankee Gas was unable to lay out an implementation plan or to provide specifics on potential cost-savings to residents, and ultimately couldn’t make good on its vow to have natural gas in New Canaan this year. Yankee Gas’ ineptitude prompted town officials to consider starting negotiations anew with that utility as well as competitor CNG.
Yet taxpayers stand to gain cost-savings if Yankee Gas runs a line from Stamford into New Canaan to serve three schools—South, Saxe and the high school (as well as two private organizations, the New Canaan YMCA and Waveny Care Center), First Selectman Rob Mallozzi said.
“If that’s the way we go—and I’m pretty sure we’re going to go that way—we’re going to make that utility commit to bringing gas down South Avenue within a 5-year period,” Mallozzi said.
The prospect of serving those five buildings with their sizable commercial loads is appealing to Yankee Gas, and for New Canaan (after an initial conversion cost of about $94,000 for its three schools), annual energy savings of up to $345,000 are possible, Mallozzi said. Businesses in New Canaan are interested in the cost-savings and local safety officials say they’d prefer to see natural gas lines to portable propane tanks.
The next step is for New Canaan (likely tapping the expertise of Selectman Nick Williams, Mallozzi said) to draw up a new “Memo of Understanding” with Yankee Gas that includes the 5-year requirement.
Private residences also stand to benefit from a natural gas line that would run into New Canaan starting next summer.
About 170 homes along a route from Stamford into New Canaan that includes Jelliff Mill Road (which already is expected to see construction next summer) could be hooked up to natural gas, Mallozzi said.
“We want [Yankee Gas] to commit to our citizens, not just those three or four buildings, but to our citizens along the route, with expanding tentacles from Farm Road instead of expanding tentacles from Richmond Hill or Elm Street,” he said.