June 12, 2025 (Rocky Top, TN) – Powell Clinch Utility District (PCUD) announced today that they are 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 Burchett, Congressman Fleischmann, Senator 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.