Licking County Pipeline Announced to Strengthen Local Energy Infrastructure

The $150 million project will be fully funded by an energy generator, providing greater price stability and reliability for cooperative members.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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The Energy Cooperative, a local member-owned cooperative, has announced plans for the Licking County Pipeline, a proposed 24-mile natural gas transmission line designed to strengthen the energy infrastructure in Licking County, Ohio. The project will be fully funded by an energy generator, providing greater price stability and reliability for the cooperative's members without increasing their rates.

Why it matters

As a local, member-owned cooperative, The Energy Cooperative is uniquely positioned to manage this project with the community's best interests in mind. The pipeline will bring additional natural gas supply into the area, strengthening the cooperative's distribution system and providing capacity for future growth. By generating power on-site for a data center rather than drawing from the regional electric grid, the project also helps reduce strain on the broader power system that serves area homes and businesses.

The details

The $150 million pipeline project will be built by people who live and work in Licking County, providing jobs and supporting the local economy. The pipeline will bring additional natural gas supply into the area, strengthening The Energy Cooperative's distribution system and providing capacity for future growth. The project is being fully funded by the energy generator, meaning cooperative ratepayer dollars will not be used to construct the pipeline.

  • The Energy Cooperative announced the pipeline project on February 10, 2026.
  • The project is currently in its earliest stages, with the cooperative conducting engineering and environmental studies and following the Ohio Power Siting Board regulatory process.

The players

The Energy Cooperative

A local, member-owned cooperative that is managing the Licking County Pipeline project with the community's best interests in mind.

Todd Ware

The President and CEO of The Energy Cooperative.

Dan McVey

The Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Gas Operations at The Energy Cooperative.

Heather Juzenas

The Vice President of Marketing and Member Services at The Energy Cooperative.

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What they’re saying

“We believe this project will move forward. Our belief is if someone is going to do this in our backyard, we want it to be us.”

— Todd Ware, President & CEO at The Energy Cooperative (EINPresswire.com)

“This project is being managed right here, by your neighbors, for the benefit of our members and ratepayers. That's the cooperative difference.”

— Todd Ware, President & CEO at The Energy Cooperative (EINPresswire.com)

“As we continue to see growth in western Licking County, we are excited to bring additional gas supply into that part of our system. This is about long-term growth, system reliability, and stability for all of our natural gas members.”

— Dan McVey, Vice President & COO of Gas Operations at The Energy Cooperative (EINPresswire.com)

“Our members benefit in multiple ways. They are not paying for it, but will benefit from a stronger and more reliable natural gas system. Additionally, the community benefits from the infrastructure that will serve it for decades to come. That's a win across the board.”

— Heather Juzenas, Vice President of Marketing & Member Services at The Energy Cooperative (EINPresswire.com)

What’s next

The Energy Cooperative is currently conducting engineering and environmental studies and will follow the Ohio Power Siting Board regulatory process, which includes opportunities for public review and comment.

The takeaway

As a local, member-owned cooperative, The Energy Cooperative is uniquely positioned to manage this $150 million pipeline project in a way that prioritizes the community's best interests, providing greater price stability and reliability for its members without increasing their rates.