Ameren Illinois and local officials announce natural gas line upgrade in LaSalle and Marshall Co.

WENONA – Politicians, local business leaders and elected officials announced details of a natural gas line expansion at Hearthside Foods in Wenona, Monday morning. Ameren Illinois completed a natural gas line upgrade from IL-71 and IL-251, south along IL-251 to just west of Tonica. The $5.4 million project replaced 3.25 miles of 4-inch high pressure pipe with new 8-inch high pressure pipe, increasing capacity and pressure on this segment of the line as well as downline in communities like Wenona and Toluca.

 

Daetta Jones, Senior Director of Operations for Ameren, says the upgrade provides businesses and grain dryers with the energy they need to meet today’s demand, capacity to accommodate potential business and ag industry expansion.

Hearthside Foods Plant Manager Jeff Pickard says  the manufacturing facility now has the opportunity to expand and look for more business.

 

 

The upgrades were undertaken by the support of Senator Chuck Weaver and Representative Ryan Spain, both instrumental in accelerating the timeline to allocate capital dollars for the project.