Valdosta will soon be home to a new satellite Liquefied Natural Gas facility. Thanks to a plan approved this month by the Georgia Public Service Commission, Atlanta Gas Light is set to build the facility.

Natural gas demand has never been higher in our area, in large part to new manufacturers including the Walmart dairy processing facility, increased demand by Archer Daniel Midland and an expansion by Arglass, to name a few.

Every three years the PSC reviews the gas supply needs throughout the state and the infrastructure necessary to deliver that supply. Although some interstate pipeline constraints must be addressed in the long term, analysis by Atlanta Gas Light shows that our community needs the gas much sooner. We cannot wait for interstate pipeline operators to act.

Liquified Natural Gas, or LNG, will help bridge the gap until more supply becomes available.

The $50-million, 25-acre facility will store up to 300,000 gallons of LNG. This is natural gas that has been transformed into a liquid state by cooling it to negative-259 degrees Fahrenheit for safe storage and transport. The process reduces the gas to 1/600th of its original un-liquified volume.

As the gas is needed during peak periods, the plant vaporizes the LNG, returning it to a gaseous state. It is then injected into the pipeline system for delivery to customers. The plant will help deliver ample energy supply in our area starting in 2025.

To meet energy demand, coordination among policy makers and economic development professionals is crucial. Utility infrastructure and gas supply must be top-of-mind when new industries are recruited to open their businesses in our area. Since 2022, the PSC has approved over $12 million to provide natural gas service for economic development projects in the Valdosta area. Atlanta Gas Light has invested over $4 million in natural gas infrastructure during the same period.

Over the past couple of years, there have been more than 65 economic development inquiries from businesses looking to locate here. The future looks bright for Valdosta and its surrounding areas.

Manufacturing facilities of all types rely on natural gas for its reliability and stable heating. Our utilities rely on natural gas to generate electricity. And our neighbors rely on it as an economical and versatile energy source for cooking and heating our homes.

Natural gas is allowing us to complete the energy transition in a just, accessible and affordable manner while focusing on emissions. It is the stable energy source that allows renewable energy resources to progress cleanly, reliably and affordably.