Heartland Gas Pipeline Schedules Groundbreaking and Open House

INDIANAPOLIS – Heartland Gas Pipeline, LLC. will officially break ground Wednesday, May 10 on its 25-mile pipeline that will deliver new supplies of clean-burning natural gas to Indiana. Local and state officials have been invited to the groundbreaking ceremony scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at Citizens Gas' Johnstown Compressor Station located just north of Worthington, Indiana.

In addition to the groundbreaking, area residents have been invited to a community open house about the project scheduled for Wednesday from 4-7 p.m. at the Old Bank & Co. Restaurant at 59 S. Main Street in Linton, Indiana.

Heartland Gas Pipeline, a 50/50 joint venture of Citizens Gas & Coke Utility and ProLiance Energy, LLC., is building a 16-inch diameter pipeline that will transport up to 80,000 dekatherms per day of natural gas to the region. The $17 million pipeline will begin at an interconnect with the Midwestern Gas Transmission system in Sullivan County, Indiana and will extend about 25 miles east through Clay and Owen Counties to the Citizens Gas Underground Storage facilities in Greene County, Indiana near Worthington. The pipeline construction is expected to take approximately four months with pipeline operation to begin by November 1.

Through its interconnection with Midwestern Gas Transmission, Heartland Gas Pipeline will provide Indiana improved access to growing gas supply volumes now flowing into an interstate pipeline delivery hub located near Chicago. The Chicago hub receives gas supplies from the Western United States and Canada.

“We look forward to the completion of the Heartland Pipeline because we know it will provide the opportunity to lower natural gas costs to our customers. Access to new natural gas supplies from the Western U.S. and Canada will help us mitigate seasonal spikes in wholesale gas costs which have been occurring due to the popularity of our clean-burning fuel and restricted supply development,” said Carey Lykins, President and CEO of Citizens Gas.

The new Heartland Pipeline will aid Indiana's economic development efforts while providing enhanced supply security for the region, according to John Talley, President of ProLiance. “Heartland's access to new gas supplies from the Western U.S. and Canada will provide Indiana a competitive edge as residential and industrial demand for natural gas continues to grow. Heartland also will help protect the region from supply disruptions such as those which occurred last summer from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita,” Talley said.

The Heartland Gas Pipeline will be built with the highest standards for safety and environmental protection. "Crews have already begun clearing right-of-way for the project and pipeline construction will begin shortly. The Heartland owners will respect the needs of landowners and the communities along the route to ensure protection of agricultural, environmental, and cultural resources before, during and after construction," said Lindsay Lindgren, Vice President of Gas Operations for Citizens Gas.

The Heartland Project also is having an immediate positive economic benefit for the area since many of the workers on the project are hired through local unions.

About Citizens Gas
Citizens Gas & Coke Utility is a Public Charitable Trust providing efficient and reliable energy services to more than 266,000 customers in and around Marion County. The Public Charitable Trust means the utility is managed only for the benefit of customers and the community. For more information, visit www.citizensgas.com.

About ProLiance Energy
Founded in 1996, ProLiance Energy, LLC., is one of the largest regional natural gas marketers with customers in 16 states and offices in Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky and Texas. Its staff of more than 100 energy professionals manages the energy needs of more than 1,100 utility, municipal, industrial and commercial customers. For more information, visit www.proliance.com.

Directions to Citizens' Johnstown Station from Worthington:

• Take Indiana Route 157 north and about 3 miles.
• Make a right turn on SR 157 towards Coal City and travel 1.5 miles (if you stay straight you would be on Ind. 48)
• Turn right at the Citizens Gas sign on C.R. 990 N.
• If you cross the river bridge into Owen County, you missed Citizens Gas.
• Phone: 812-875-2066 Ext. 0, if you need assistance.

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