Fritz’s Natural Gas Pipeline Expansion Proposal Written into Law

July 10, 2019

HARRISBURG – Advocating for the need of pro-jobs and growth options in rural parts of the Commonwealth has proven successful for Rep. Jonathan Fritz (R-Susquehanna/Wayne) as his Pipeline Investment Program initiative expansion proposal was signed into law.

“The need for family sustaining jobs is crucial, especially in rural parts of Pennsylvania,” said Fritz. “By expanding the PIPE grant program and completing the natural gas distribution lines, more jobs will be created, more money will be pumped back into our economy, and manufacturers, businesses and local residents will have equal access to low cost, clean burning natural gas.”

Fritz’s proposal includes making grants available to construct the last few miles of distribution lines to business parks and existing manufacturing and industrial enterprises and accelerating beneficial deployment of low-cost energy, resulting in the creation of new economic base jobs in the Commonwealth while providing access to natural gas for residents.

His proposal also accomplishes the following:

• Opens existing grants to large residential conversion projects and combined heat and power applications.
• Increases the maximum grant amount from $1 million to $1.5 million.
• Provides for an additional $500,000 grant for tapping projects.
• Directs the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) to develop streamlined guidelines to expedite applications for grants of $75,000 or less.

The concept outlined in Fritz’s House Bill 1103 was amended into Senate Bill 712, which served as the Commonwealth’s 2019-20 Fiscal Code measure.

This law went into effect on July 1, 2019.

For more information regarding the Pipeline Investment grant program, click on this link.

Representative Jonathan Fritz
111th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Abby Krueger
717.260.6617
akrueger@pahousegop.com
RepFritzPA.com / Facebook.com/RepFritz