📰BREAKING NEWS: UNE Considers Extending Natural Gas Main from Downtown to UNE Campus
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
February 18, 2026, at last night’s city council meeting, Biddeford City Manager Truc Dever informed councilors and the Mayor, that according to a memo she received from Alan Thibault (UNE Vice President for University Operations), the University of New England is "considering working with Unitil on an extension of the natural gas main from downtown to the UNE campus."
The full memo shared by City Manager Dever can be viewed below:
"In our ongoing efforts to maintain our facilities, reduce our carbon footprint, and increase our operational resiliency.
UNE is considering working with Unitil on an extension of the natural gas main from downtown to the UNE campus.
This would significantly reduce the field delivery truck traffic on Route 9 to the UNE campus.
Such a venture would have significant benefits to the greater community as well, and we're hoping the city might be interested in this project."
In addition, a spokesperson from the University reached out directly to the Biddeford Buzz and gave the following statement:
"The University of New England has been in early conversations with city officials about a potential infrastructure project that could bring significant benefits to the broader Biddeford community. UNE is exploring the possibility of partnering with Until to extend the natural gas main from downtown to the UNE campus along Route 9. The university proactively shared this information with city officials at the outset of the project to ensure transparency and to explore opportunities for collaboration.
While the project supports UNE's long-term goals of reducing its carbon footprint and improving operational sustainability, the potential community benefits are equally compelling. Extending the natural gas line along Route 9 would meaningfully reduce heavy fuel delivery truck traffic through the corridor. Additionally, the infrastructure could be made available for homes and businesses along Route 9 to connect to, potentially expanding access to natural gas service for the surrounding community. We look forward to continued conversations and potential collaboration on this project."
For your convenience, we have attached the City manager's full remarks pertaining to the memo from UNE below:
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