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Laconia council endorses regional push to expand natural gas capacity amid Liberty Utilities moratorium
Summary
Laconia’s City Council unanimously backed the Planning Department’s request to work with Liberty Utilities, the state, and neighboring towns to seek expanded natural gas infrastructure after Liberty placed a moratorium on new service due to pipeline capacity constraints; staff cited preliminary engineering and multi-year construction timelines.
The Laconia City Council on Jan. 26 voted to support the Planning Department’s effort to coordinate with Liberty Utilities, the State, and neighboring municipalities to pursue expansion of regional natural gas infrastructure.
Planning staff described a moratorium Liberty Utilities has placed on adding new service in parts of Laconia and the Lakes Region because the existing pipeline and a supplemental LNG facility in Tilton do not have adequate winter capacity. The briefing, delivered by City staff, said Liberty believes at least an additional roughly 10 miles of pipeline or equivalent upgrades are needed; preliminary engineering could take two years and construction another two to three years, according to the meeting record.
Manager Kirk Beattie and councilors discussed regional coordination and outreach. Councilor Soucy moved that the Council support the Planning Department in working with the State, Liberty Utilities, and neighboring towns; Councilor Bogert seconded and the motion passed 6-0. Councilor Bogert asked whether a letter could be prepared to send to the Governor’s Office; Manager Beattie said that was likely.
The Planning Department’s materials noted that, as of Jan. 12, natural gas was 33% cheaper than electric heat pumps, 62% cheaper than oil, and 156% cheaper than propane, figures presented as context for the Council’s support request. The motion does not, by itself, authorize city funding for construction; it directs staff to pursue intergovernmental and utility engagement.
