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Access To Natural Gas: A New Draw For The North Country?

There’s a new effort underway to attract businesses to the North Country with the prospect of cheaper energy.

NHPR’s Chris Jensen has the story.

An economic development group has a new way to encourage businesses to come to Coos.

It is taking advantage of a natural gas pipeline from Canada that crosses the county, says Jon Freeman, the president of the Northern Community Investment Corporation.

“Typically the natural gas will cost about one quarter of the price of oil.”

Freeman’s group has now developed free engineering plans and software that show companies how to tap into the pipeline and estimate their energy savings.

Last year the Gorham paper mill spent $5.4 million to convert from heating oil to natural gas from that pipeline. The investment was paid back in four months, a mill official said.

Freeman says next step is to spread the word to businesses.

For NHPR News this is Chris Jensen

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