PCUD awarded $4.02 million in infrastructure safety federal grants

‘The grant assists ratepayers covering significant improvement costs’- Rob Neil, President of PCUD

TOP PHOTO:  Left to right are Rob Neil, PCUD President, Emily McCaul, Representative for Senator Bill Hagerty, Madeline Lewen, Intern for Senator Bill Hagerty, Damond Smith, U.S. Dept. of Transportation (PHMSA), Tammy Merritt, Field Representative for Congressman Chuck Fleischmann, John Stair, PCUD Chairman of the Board, Greg Leach, PCUD Secretary of the Board, Steve Croley, PCUD Vice-President of Finance, Stephen Harris, PCUD Vice-President of Operations, and Parker Willsey, Rebekah Linn and Shawn Aiken of Southern Cathodic Protection.

ROCKY TOP, TN (SPECIAL TO WLAF)- Powell Clinch Utility District (PCUD) announces that it is the recipient of a $4.02 million dollar grant through the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s (PHMSA) 2023 Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Safety and Modernization (NGDISM) grant program. This grant is a testament to PCUD’s commitment to enhancing the safety and reliability of their natural gas distribution infrastructure.

The NGDISM grant program is designed to support projects that improve the safety and modernization of natural gas distribution systems, ensuring they meet the highest safety and efficiency standards. “This award will enable PCUD to continue implementing critical infrastructure improvements that will enhance the safety, reliability and environmental performance of our natural gas distribution network,” said Stephen Harris, PCUD’s Vice President of Operations.

“As a non-profit governmental utility, PCUD is grateful that Congress and the President are prioritizing investments to modernize gas distribution pipelines across the nation through the Infrastructure Investment and Job Act,” said Rob Neil, President of PCUD. Neil added, “this investment in infrastructure not only enhances safety, it also assists our ratepayers as the significant cost of these improvements are covered by the grant. PCUD would like to recognize Congressman Tim Burchett, Congressman Chuck Fleischmann, Senator Bill Hagerty, and their staff who supported PCUD’s grant request to PHMSA.”

With this support from policymakers, public gas utilities can continue to play a vital role in fueling America’s energy future providing affordable, reliable, and clean-burning natural gas to millions of American homes and businesses nationwide. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-06/17/2025-6AM)