Donaldsonville awarded $20 million grant toward natural gas infrastructure: U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy

The City of Donaldsonville has been awarded a $20 million grant that will provide federal funding for pipeline construction to replace 27.3 miles of natural gas infrastructure, U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy announced.

According to a news release from Cassidy, the U.S. Department of Transportation will grant several communities in Louisiana a total of $52.7 million in the Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration fiscal year 2023 Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure and Safety Modernization Grants from the Infrastructure and Jobs Act.

The new announcement has been made after the initial $10 million grant was celebrated in April 2023 during a news conference with several elected officials at the Lemann Memorial Center in Donaldsonville.

During last year's conference, the seven communities received a total of $27.4 million to modernize high-risk natural gas distribution pipes.

According to the recent release, more funding is expected over the next three years.

"Pipelines transport the energy required to fuel our daily lives," Cassidy said in the release. "This funding will enhance the safety and efficiency of our infrastructure for years to come."

Per the release, PHMSA's grant programs reimburse up to 80 percent of the operating costs for state programs charged with inspecting transmissions, distribution lines and underground facilities within the state.

Again this round of funding, Donaldsonville received the largest amount.

The other communities that were awarded grants included:

• Gas Utility District 2 of East Feliciana - $15,500,000
• Gas Utility District 1 of East Baton Rouge Parish - $9,427,539
• Gas Utility District of West Feliciana Parish - $2,339,165
• Town of Berwick - $1,993,452
• Town of Berwick - $1,854,512
• City of Walker - $1,150,780
• City of Port Allen - $206,000
• Town of Berwick - $187,081
• Gas Utility District 1 of East Baton Rouge Parish - $69,269

Gonzales Weekly Citizen and Donaldsonville Chief, part of the USA Today Network of Louisiana, cover Ascension Parish and the greater Baton Rouge area. Follow at facebook.com/WeeklyCitizen and facebook.com/DonaldsonvilleChief.