Drayton will soon receive natural gas service.
Dakota Natural Gas will be bringing gas from the Viking Pipeline in Minnesota to that city. It’s a $3.2 million project. And the Public Service Commission says that will give residents a choice to stay with propane or sign up for natural gas.
The PSC has set rates for the new gas service.
The project was driven by American Crystal Sugar, who will convert from Powder River coal, shipped in from Wyoming, to natural gas for its sugar beet processing.
"It's an exciting project," said Commissioner Julie Fedorchak. "And it will be even more exciting to see how the gas service will grow from this base."
Fedorchak said it will be interesting to see how long it will take for the Drayton area to attract new gas customers, and to grow enough to expand to neighboring communities.
"We've been told time and again that natural gas is a key to economic development," Fedorchak said. "And the rural communities that don't have it are pretty much left out."
It’s the second natural gas expansion to areas with industrial needs. Earlier, MDU expanded gas serve to Gwinner for the Bobcat plant.
