Plans are moving ahead once again on a proposed natural gas pipeline to run through Hamilton County. A hearing is set for March 21, 2019, at UC Blue Ash.Duke Energy suspended the procedural schedule nearly a year and half ago following a first public hearing.
Duke Energy wants to start the Central Corridor Pipeline Extension in Northeast Hamilton County and run it south through Blue Ash and Montgomery to Fairfax. The alternative proposal runs along Reading Road, ending south of Golf Manor.
Both proposals are nearly the same as what was presented in 2016, with a few modifications here and there of a hundred feet or so.
A Duke spokeswoman tells WVXU the company conducted additional environmental testing and meetings with concerned community members before resubmitting the adjusted proposals in April.
The Ohio Power Siting Board is expected to deliberate this coming April. A decision is expected in the months following.
"I am very pleased that we now have a schedule to continue moving this much-needed project forward," says Amy Spiller, president, Duke Energy Ohio and Kentucky, in a statement. "I am confident that we can construct and operate this pipeline safely in order to continue reliable natural gas service to our customers in southwest Ohio."
Hearing Information
- Public Hearing: An additional public hearing will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 21, 2019, to allow statements from members of the affected public who are not parties to the case. (An initial public hearing was held in June 2017.) The public hearing will be held at the University of Cincinnati-Blue Ash 9555 Plainfield Road, Muntz Hall, Room 119 Blue Ash, OH 45236
- Evidentiary Hearing: The evidentiary (adjudicatory) hearing will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 9, 2019, to allow parties to the case to provide sworn testimony and cross-examine witnesses. This hearing will take place at the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) in Hearing Room 11-A, 180 E. Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43215
