New pipeline extension will support local businesses and future economic development
HAZELTON, WV, UNITED STATES, November 10, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Building on more than 25 years of providing natural gas infrastructure in Preston County, PS Energy Group has been contracted by the Preston County Economic Development Authority (PCEDA) to extend the county’s natural gas service to the county’s new industrial site on the former TAZ Hardwoods sawmill property in Hazelton, West Virginia.
The project represents another significant investment in the county’s infrastructure and will help expand access to natural gas for businesses considering expansion or relocation in the area. Construction began September 21, 2026, with the work funded through a multi-million Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) grant secured by the PCEDA. Crews began working onsite on November 2, 2026, and the project is expected to be completed before the end of the year.
PS Energy’s history in Preston County dates to 2000, when the company constructed the natural gas pipeline that serves the U.S. Bureau of Prisons’ Federal Correctional Complex Hazelton, shortly followed by the businesses of the adjoining industrial park. The new extension will build on that existing infrastructure, expanding the pipeline’s reach to support additional commercial and industrial development. The project also reflects PS Energy’s broader experience developing natural gas infrastructure, including its first, in Yazoo City, Mississippi, that has served the Federal Correctional Complex there since 1996.
“For more than 25 years, PS Energy has been proud to play a role in developing reliable energy infrastructures that support Preston County’s businesses and industries,” said Livia Whisenhunt, founder and CEO of PS Energy Group. “What began with our original pipeline project in 2000 has grown into a lasting partnership with the county and this latest expansion is an important continuation of that work. We’re grateful for the trust Preston County has placed in our team and we look forward to helping build something that will support growth within the community.”
“Access to natural gas is one of the first things manufacturers consider when evaluating a location,” said Roberta “Robbie” Baylor, Executive Director of the Preston County Economic Development Authority. “PS Energy has been a dependable partner to this county for a generation, and bringing its line to the sawmill property lets us compete for expanding and relocating businesses. This project is an important step in positioning Preston County for long-term economic growth.”
The AMLER program, administered nationally by the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, funds projects that return former coal-mining land to productive economic use. Since 2016, it has supported more than 300 projects across Appalachia and tribal lands.
About PS Energy Group, Inc.
Founded in 1986 and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, PS Energy Group provides energy supply and management solutions for utility, industrial, and government customers. Its services include fuel supply and management, emergency fueling, natural gas pipeline construction and operation, and asset management, helping customers maintain reliable operations and manage costs. PS Energy is a certified woman- and Hispanic-owned business, holding WOSB, NMSDC, WBENC, MBE and WBE certifications. For more information, visit www.psenergy.com.
About the Preston County Economic Development Authority
The Preston County Economic Development Authority is the lead economic development agency for Preston County, West Virginia. Working with local, regional, and state partners, the Authority supports existing businesses, attracts new investment, and advances infrastructure improvements that encourage job creation and economic opportunity. For more information, visit www.prestonwv.com.
Dawn Yosias
PS Energy Group, Inc.
+1 770-350-3000
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