By Eileen Buckley
North Collins, NY – A local company says it has opened the largest propane storage facility in Western New York. Niagara Energy is operating this new, state-of-the-art, underground supply of propane that officially opened in North Collins Wednesday.
The propane storage facility is located along Route 62, just outside the village of North Collins. It is a more than 367,000 gallon facility that includes a connection with the Buffalo Southern Railroad. Niagara Energy General Manager James Renaldo says this will allow propane wholesalers from across the US and Canada to store the fuel for future distribution to propane retailers. Renaldo says this will improve the supply of propane in the region.
"In the winter time, that supply is not as readily available as we would like it to be," Renaldo explained. "So hopefully this will alleviate some of those problems."
The facility includes a rail tower for off-loading of railroad cars and is located on former farm land. Having the area's largest propane storage site in their backyard might raise concerns from residents. But according to Renaldo, the project faced no opposition. He did say one of the reasons the fuel is being stored underground is to ease any fears. Renaldo says North Collins residents have been extremely supportive of the project.
"They see it as economic development for the area as we do. We appreciate all their support," Renaldo said. "Town government has been fantastic in helping us get this project off the ground. We've had no opposition whatsoever. The fact that it is an underground facility helps the matter. It is an out of sight out of mind thing. But that really wasn't our primary reason for putting it underground."
Renaldo says the company has been handling propane since 1945 without incident. He says in the long run, this underground facility should create a positive economic impact. Renaldo says it will increase the town's tax base and generate "national awareness" that propane is being transported from all across the US into Western New York.