Natural gas line could be completed in February

A pipeline that will bring natural gas to the Tongue River Valley could be substantially compete by Jan. 27, with full completion planned for February.

Peter Clark, mayor of Ranchester and chairman of the joint powers board that’s been working on the natural gas efforts, gave an update on the project to Sheridan County’s legislative delegates at a meeting last month.

When completed, the new pipeline will bring natural gas into the communities of Ranchester and Dayton, including Sheridan County School District 1’s three schools in the valley.

The Tongue River Valley Joint Powers Board, whose members include representatives of both towns and the school district, was organized about eight years ago to facilitate the project.

When the pipeline is complete, natural gas will be available, replacing the more expensive propane that’s been the only source of heating fuel for the area until now.

Construction of the $5.7 million project started around April 1, 2019, under a contract with DRM of Gillette.

The gas is to be transmitted via Montana-Dakota Utilities’ Williston Basin pipeline to connect with the Tongue River Valley system on West Fifth Street in Sheridan.