San Luis hires firm for gas line feasibility study

California-based Berkeley Research Group awarded $161,050 contract

SAN LUIS, Ariz. — A California-based firm has been hired to determine the potential demand here for natural gas and possible routes for lines to bringing it to the city.

The San Luis City Council recently voted to award a contract for $161,050 to Berkeley Research Group to answer those questions in a feasibility study expected to be completed in May.

While the study will look at potential demand, San Luis officials already believe the city needs to offer natural gas service to be able to attract new industry.

“(Industrial prospects) need it,” said City Councilman Matias Rosales, “but the problem is we don’t have it.”

He added that natural gas would likely also be a boon to the local home construction industry. “When people go to buy a home, one of the questions they ask is there is gas available.”

The study will be paid for with grant funds the city received this year from the North American Development Bank.

The council’s vote to award the contract to Berkeley Research Group followed an announcement by Mexico’s Federal Electricity Commission that it plans to build in San Luis Rio Colorado a power generating plant that potentially could be served by the same gas line. Rosales said city officials don’t know whether that project could figure into the feasibility study.

“They are different projects that eventually could come together, but we don’t know if they already have a study, while we are beginning one.”

The study would also look at where the line could be laid to be able to serve consumers.

San Luis Economic Development Director Jenny Torres said the city hopes to have the study’s finding in hand by the end of May to be able to present it to potential investors such as utility companies.

In its website, Berkeley Research Group describes itself as a global consulting firm serving clients across a wide range of industries, including construction, energy and technology.