NIPSCO announces the completion of two major natural gas expansion projects in LaGrange and Whitley Counties as part of the company’s overall plan to modernize, expand and enhance the energy delivery infrastructure in northern Indiana.
In December of 2021, the company completed a planned two-year $9.5 million dollar investment in the Shipshewana natural gas system and a planned one-year $16.6 million dollar investment in the Churubusco and northwest Allen County natural gas system. These projects provide increased natural gas capacity for LaGrange, Whitley and Allen Counties to ensure current customer reliability and allow for future economic expansion to the communities and customers NIPSCO serves in these two areas.
“These infrastructure investment projects are only possible with collaboration with City and County governments, and we are thankful for their support,” said Dana Berkes, Public Affairs and Economic Development Manager for NIPSCO in northeast Indiana. “These relationships and corresponding projects support regional and state economic development goals and projects goals and NIPSCO is proud to be a partner in community growth.”
The Shipshewana natural gas upgrade project included the installation of approximately four miles of new 12” natural gas steel pipeline and approximately two and half miles of new 12” natural gas plastic pipeline that will connect NIPSCO’s existing “Rise’n Roll” natural gas regulator station to the existing Shipshewana natural gas distribution system. This new natural gas installation is tentatively scheduled to be fully distributing natural gas by March of 2022.
The Churubusco natural gas project included the installation of one new natural gas regulator station located at the corner of Hildebrand Road and U.S. 33 and an upgrade to one existing regulator station located at the corner of C.R. 700 E and U.S. 30. Both stations are equipped with advanced technology and safety features that enable the natural gas system to be efficiently monitored and inspected for a continuous, safe and reliable natural gas service to NIPSCO customers. This upgrade project also included the installation of approximately seven miles of 16” steel natural gas pipeline that connects the two stations and an additional 960 feet of 8” steel pipeline connecting into the existing Fort Wayne natural gas system.
System modernization and expansion project are critical to the integrity and reliability of NIPSCO’s overall natural gas system, ensuring system safety now, and in the future. NIPSCO would like to thank the community and its customers for their patience during these important system modernization projects.
