Federal Funds Now Hard at Work Across Philadelphia Replacing Legacy Infrastructure
Posted on: Jun 03, 2025Funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law aids in accelerating PGW’s Main Replacement Program to significantly reduce methane emissions, improve safety, lower costs, and enhance service reliability.
PHILADELPHIA (June 3, 2025)- Roughly one year ago, Philadelphia Gas Works received a grant of $125 million from the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). Since that time, PGW began to worksite plan and source all American-made project and construction materials, one of the grant requirements, and kicked off an extensive main replacement program. Work has now begun.
Seven PHMSA funded projects have started or will begin in June in the Olney section of Philadelphia. The project locations and timelines can be found through PGW’s Pipeline Improvement map.
In total, the citywide main improvements funded by the PHMSA grant will result in the replacement of 66 miles of cast iron main, the creation of 120 new skilled jobs and a reduction of 412 metric tons of methane emissions.
In addition to the grant funding, PGW continues to upgrade underground infrastructure across the city. The safety and reliability of the natural gas system is critical, and the ability to replace mains without additional costs for PGW’s customers is an economic benefit for the entire community. This campaign is part of PGW’s Main Replacement Program, which directly supports the delivery of safe, reliable energy and advances PGW’s methane reduction efforts.
Replacing aging cast iron pipes with upgraded material that does not rust or corrode and that eliminates methane escape will help PGW meet its 2050 goal of reducing methane emissions by 80 percent. PGW expects to complete its entire inventory of cast iron main replacement by 2058.
The PHMSA Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Safety & Modernization (NGDISM) grant program helps improve public safety, protect public health, and reduce methane emissions from natural gas distribution pipes. The grant provides nearly $1 billion in funding over five years to modernize municipal and community-owned natural gas distribution systems, like PGW, helping to keep communities across the country safe from pipeline leaks.
You can find more information on the NGDISM grant program here and to learn more about PGW’s pipeline improvements, visit pgworks.com/pipeline-map.
For Media help call our media hotline - Phone: (267) 249-7542
