The Public Service Commission voted 2-1 to let We Energies’ Wisconsin Gas division build the new lateral from Tomah to Eau Claire. The new pipeline will start going in next year. The $182 million West Central Lateral project would make it possible for WE Energies to provide gas to residential customers in Clark, Eau Claire, Jackson and Monroe counties and frac sand mining processors in Western Wisconsin.

Plans filed by WE Energies last year indicated that the West Central Lateral would start from a proposed interconnection with the Viking Gas Transmission Co. pipeline in Eau Claire or Clark County and run south with delivery points to Wisconsin Gas’ existing distribution networks in Augusta, Hixton, Alma, Black River Falls and Tomah. The project is scheduled to be completed in November 2015.