Union Gas is looking to expand access to natural gas in the northern part of Chatham-Kent.
But first, officials with the company need to know if there is enough interest from large agricultural businesses and other potential customers.
Spokesperson Barb Petek says they have heard that businesses are interested in the idea, but they need to know more specifics before they can move ahead.
"This formal expression of interest is our way of solidifying those informal requests to make sure that we would have enough [interest] to support a new pipeline in the area," says Petek.
If Union Gas receives enough solid interest in the idea, it could expand its pipelines in the Tupperville-area and near Dover Centre.
Petek says they're especially considering expansion in those areas to increase capacity for the fast-growing greenhouse market.
"It is definitely the greenhouse industry, but we're interested in hearing from any other large business as well," says Petek. "Not just businesses that are located currently in the area, but ones that might be interested in coming to the Chatham-Kent area."
The pipeline expansions could be in place as early as the fall of 2018, but the project is still in the early stages. It would need approval from the Ontario Energy Board and funding from the provincial government to go ahead.
Any businesses that are interested should fill out an Expression of Interest bid form, which can be found at www.uniongas.com/ckruralexpansion.
The forms are due back to Union Gas by May 23, 2017.
