Bringing natural gas home

Many people in Mat-Su Borough want natural gas pipes to come to their homes. Natural gas costs less money than heating oil. It burns cleaner than wood. It also gives steady heat without running out of fuel. But how do neighborhoods actually get natural gas? There are several ways that people can work together to make this happen.

One of the best ways to bring natural gas to your area is called a Local Improvement District. People call it an LID for short. Think of an LID like neighbors working as a team. They share the cost of things that help everyone in their neighborhood. For natural gas, an LID lets home owners split the cost of putting in gas pipes. It requires a vote of the people that will have to split the cost.

Home owners pay their part through extra fees added to their property taxes. Homeowners typically pay these costs over many years to make payments more manageable. The repayments stay with the property even if sold to a new owner.

A drawback to an LID is that even if you voted against it and don't hook up to the gas line, the District will assess you the fee if your property is in the District. Because of this, many people seek other methods of paying.

Grant money offers another way to get natural gas. Different state and federal programs give money for energy projects. This is especially true in country areas like most of the Mat-Su Borough. The Alaska Energy Authority often has grant programs that help towns build energy projects. This includes natural gas pipe systems.

Federal groups like the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development program also give money for projects in areas that qualify. These grants sometimes pay for a big part of the project's costs. This makes natural gas much cheaper for communities to get.

The secret to winning grants is showing how the project helps the entire community. Grants often like projects that create jobs, lower energy costs for people, or help the environment. They especially like projects that replace dirtier heating fuels.

The city, borough, and State of Alaska sometimes pay for projects like gas lines through their capital budget process. These are different from grants because they come from regular government money instead of special programs.

This type of money works best when communities get organized and show they really want natural gas. When elected officials see many people want natural gas service, they're more likely to put these projects in their budget requests.

Community teamwork also works well. Sometimes nearby towns can work together on bigger projects that help multiple areas. This makes the costs easier for everyone.

The first step is always getting your neighbors organized. Natural gas projects work best when lots of people join in. Start by talking to your neighbors about whether they want natural gas service. Hold casual meetings to see how much support you have and find people who can help lead the effort.

Next, call the Mat-Su Borough's Community Development Department. They can explain the LID process and help you understand what you need to do. The borough's website has information about starting LIDs and other successful projects you can learn from.

For grant money, check the Alaska Energy Authority's website often. They post new funding chances all year long. The USDA Rural Development office in Palmer can also give you information about federal programs that might help your neighborhood.

Remember that bringing natural gas to a community takes time and hard work. The key is taking that first step: talking to your neighbors and calling the right agencies to look at your options.

Christian M. Hartley is a 40-year Alaskan resident with over 25 years of public safety experience and public service. He runs a freelance business, Big Lake Writer, from home in Big Lake that he shares with his wife of 19 years and their three teenage sons.