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Natural gas service could be coming to Hillsboro and Mayville

People in Hillsboro and Mayville could soon be able to heat their homes with natural gas.

Dakota Natural Gas – a subsidiary of Greater Minnesota Gas – is proposing to bring natural gas from the Viking pipeline in Minnesota to Traill County. A big user of the gas would be the American Crystal Sugar plant, north of Hillsboro.

Dakota Natural Gas has applied to the North Dakota Public Service Commission. PSC Chairman Brian Kroshus said this will allow people to convert from more expensive propane to natural gas.

"So we have a cheaper fuel source," Kroshus said. "That's good -- not only for industry."

Kroshus said American Crystal Sugar is a farmer-owned co-op.

"When they can reduce cost, by changing a fuel source, that's a benefit to the farming community in the Red River Valley," Kroshus said.

Commissioner Julie Fedorchak said she’s been involved in an effort to bring natural gas to areas that don’t have it. She said larger businesses want natural gas.

"I'll never forget my discussions with the economic developer in Hillsboro," Fedorchak said. "She ticked off at least 3 or 4 businesses they had lost because they didn'ty have natural gas service."

Dakota Natural Gas already serves the American Crystal plant in Drayton.

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