Richmond Gas Works will receive an additional $15.7 million in federal funding in a move to modernize outdated natural gas infrastructure, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

In total, the city has received three grants totaling over $60 million from the Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) since 2023.

Richmond began replacing legacy gas pipes in 1992, according public information manager Rhonda Johnson. These grants are expected to accelerate the city’s cast iron renewal program by three years, meeting the city’s 2032 deadline for renewal.

The grant will be used to replace more than 50 miles of pipeline in areas where some pipes are estimated to be over 170 years old.

Thomas Perry works for the Department of Public Utilities in Richmond as a gas construction inspector and supervisor. Many of these old cast iron pipes are brittle and don’t last longer than 50 to 60 years, according to Perry.

“This is old Richmond, and these pipes have been here since that time,” Perry said.

Gas leaks can cause explosions, pollution and higher energy costs for residents who rely on natural gas to cook and heat homes during the winter. Some of the worst cases of infrastructure failure are seen in South Richmond, according to Richmond Mayor Levar M. Stoney.

Approximately 99% of pipelines in the U.S. are made of corrosion-resistant materials, such as plastic or steel. Twenty-four states have completely eliminated the use of cast iron for natural gas distribution.

In addition to the danger of gas leaks, corroded pipelines can drive up household energy costs, according to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

U.S. Department of Transportation officials estimate Richmond households will save an average of $519 on energy bills yearly.

“We’re helping communities across the country carry out projects that will keep people safe while bringing down energy costs for hundreds of thousands of Americans,” Buttigieg said.

Stronger infrastructure reduces pollution within communities, according to National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi. Methane is a “super pollutant” that is responsible for around 30 % of global warming caused by greenhouse gasses, according to the EPA. Oil and gas industries are the largest source of methane gas within the U.S.

PHMSA officials estimate that improving Richmond gas mains will reduce methane production by 188.49 metric tons annually.

The grant is one of 60 announced on Tuesday by the PHMSA, which will award $196 million to 20 states to update natural gas systems.

The Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Safety and Modernization grant program was created by the Biden-Harris administration’s 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The law allocates close to $1 billion for municipally owned gas companies to improve pipelines in underserved communities.