Two of five potential routes for a 24-mile Vermont Gas natural gas pipeline project pass through the Town of Whiting. Those two routes would also take the pipeline south from Middlebury through Salisbury and Leicester, and then west through Whiting, Orwell and Shoreham, on its way to an underwater crossing of Lake Champlain to the International Paper mill at Ticonderoga, NY.According to a grading system used by project planners, those two routes affecting Whiting are among the more expensive being considered, though they would put Vermont Gas in a favorable position for expansion southward to Rutland.
Three less expensive options would send the pipeline immediately west from Middlebury, crossing through the center of Cornwall and the northern portion of Shoreham. While those options appear to face significant community opposition, two of the three trans-Cornwall routes have highly favorable rankings in terms of construction, permitting process and cost and a somewhat favorable rating for connection to Rutland. Those options have informally been designated as the "most feasible scenarios."
According to a story by John Flowers in the Addison County Independent, the routes under consideration would be part of Phase 2 of a Vermont Gas expansion into Addison County. Phase 1, a 41-mile pipeline from Colchester to Middlebury, is current under review by the Vermont Public Service Board.
The prospect of access to natural gas (Vermont Gas appears to be planning to service Shoreham village and may add service to the center of Cornwall), has not increased the attractiveness of the project to local residents. Cornwall residents along Routes 30 and 74 have placed lawn signs opposing the pipeline routes.
Vermont Gas officials have been meeting with a multi-town planning group.
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