Homer-area hospital moving to gas

After decades of waiting, Homer has gas.

The South Peninsula Hospital is hosting a “valve-turning ceremony” on July 25 to celebrate becoming the first public building in the city to convert to natural gas.

The rest of the region is close behind.

As of July 8, Enstar Natural Gas Co. contractors were constructing the Homer trunk line and expected to connect the line from Anchor Point to Homer High School within two weeks. Additional contractors are working on the distribution system within Homer.

The work to extend the line to Kachemak City should be completed imminently, at which point crews plan to begin installing service lines through the local project area.

While the majority of the Southcentral region already uses natural gas, the southern tip of the Kenai Peninsula remained on diesel fuel for decades because of the lack of transmission infrastructure. The state recently helped pay for a trunk line to Homer and the remainder of the project is being funded by a surcharge added to local utility bills.

—Eric Lidji