Lawyers to review US town's plans for combustible gas plant

Plans to build a "gate station" for combustible gas in a US town must be reviewed by lawyers before it can proceed.

Patch.com reported that New Canaan, Connecticut, had proposed the building of a new plant to deliver natural gas to public buildings, businesses and homes in the region.

Currently, the Tennessee Gas Pipeline delivers combustible gas to the town. If the new project is given the go-ahead, pressure on the Tennessee gas line will be reduced by 90 per cent.

The Utilities Commission has proposed building the plant on an area of land at Waveny in the town, which has also been supported by the Park and Recreation Commission. New Canaan first selectman Rob Mallozzi said the town council would have to sign off the use of the land.

Mr Mallozzi said: "Right now it’s in the town’s hands, we’re doing our due diligence on the lease and looking into the deed covenants for the property."

It has been suggested that the new combustible gas infrastructure would save money on energy bills for residents and businesses alike. It would also eradicate the need for propane tanks, which are used to fuel a number of the town's restaurants and are considered to be a personal safety risk.

Natural gas industry experts have said state regulators and wholesale company Yankee Gas will only approve the plans if it can be shown the town wants the construction and will not be hit with higher taxes.

Mr Mallozzi added: "There’s the potential for running lines into New Canaan and allowing homeowners to heat their homes with something other than fuel oil. And we would be eliminating once and for all the unsightly propane tanks we see next to restaurants in town, which it has been pointed out by [Fire Marshal] Fred Baker, is not an ideal situation."

New Canaan is located in the south-west of the US state and has a population of almost 20,000 according to the 2010 US census.