Pennsy Supply and Leatherstocking Gas Company ceremoniously marked the opening a new Pennsy Supply asphalt plant Monday in Middletown Twp. Representatives from both companies, along with Sen. Gene Yaw, Rep. Tina Pickett, Williams’ Helen Humphreys and Cabot’s Bill desRosiers joined in as Pennsy Supply President Patrick Bartorillo cut the ribbon at the Leatherstocking meter station. STAFF PHOTO/STACI WILSON
BY STACI WILSON
A new asphalt plant in Middletown Twp. is harnessing the area’s rich mineral supply, not only its aggregate but also its natural gas.
Pennsy Supply, based out ofHarrisburg, opened itsSusquehannaCountyplant in early July. The company is able to draw natural gas to dry the aggregate, heat the liquid asphalt and warm the storage silos.
Although Williams’ Windsor Pipeline runs through the asphalt plant property, Pennsy couldn’t just tap into that line. For that, the company reached out to Leatherstocking Gas, a local distribution company.
Leatherstocking, along with Pennsy Supply, elected officials and natural gas drilling and pipeline representatives gathered at the site Monday, Sept. 17, for a ribbon cutting ceremony.
The asphalt plant is Leatherstocking’s firstSusquehannaCountyhook-up, but company reps hope it’s only the first of many.
Leatherstocking has petitioned the Pennsylvania Utility Commission for franchises to provide local, natural gas service to residents and businesses in the Montrose, Hallstead-Great Bend andNew Milfordareas. A PUC decision on those franchise petitions is expected later this month.
Pennsy Supply President Patrick Bartorillo said, “We wanted to use natural gas for this asphalt plant.”
And, instead of taking years, it was a matter of months for the entire project to be completed.
“It kept people employed at the plant and out at the construction sites,” Bartorillo said. “I’m happy about the jobs we have and that we’re using clean burning fuels for the asphalt plant.”
In addition to utilizing the clean-burning, cost-efficient resource, the new asphalt plant also helps reduce the distance trucks need to travel to haul asphalt for local PennDOT or municipal construction projects.
The asphalt plant also utilizes the natural gas in the summer, during the off-peak season of natural gas use as a heating fuel.
“It’s good for both sides,” Bartorillo said.
Leatherstocking Vice President Russell Miller said, “Pennsy came to us. It was a win-win situation.”
Leatherstocking CEO Joe Mirabito said he, and his family, had a vision for local gas distribution. A upstateNew Yorknative, Mirabito said, “All we’ve ever seen is out natural resources exported out to downstate. (Leatherstocking) wants to see your local resource used for your people; as an industrial resource to the burner tip of a stove.”
Senator Gene Yaw said he wanted to work to make natural gas service available to people in this area. “It’s produced here but with no beneficiaries,” he said.
Representative Tina Pickett also commended Leatherstocking for its willingness to move into a rural area to provide natural gas service.
Be the first to comment on "Asphalt plant paving way for natural gas"