ESSEX - The Southern Connecticut Gas Company (SCG) plans to extend its natural gas main from Westbrook into Centerbrook along Route 153, and the $2.4 million project is likely to start in September if the company can sign on three major users. One of those “anchor” users is likely to be the Essex Elementary School.

A representative from the company met last month with the Board of Education and a group of interested citizens with property along the proposed route. They were joined by First Selectman Norman Needleman and Selectman Joel Marzi. The gas company’s plan is to extend its main line 29,300 feet from the intersection of Pettipaug Road and Route 153 in Westbrook, where it now stops. The extended route would continue along Route 153 into Centerbrook, where it could serve the elementary school on Main Street. It would also turn right off Route 153 onto Bokum Road, where the company hopes to pick up the Lee Company factory facility and Essex Meadows as the other two anchor users.

With the price of oil rising, natural gas offers substantial reductions for heating costs at the school, Needleman said earlier this month at the Board of Selectmen meeting. The SCG representative estimated annual savings of $52,000 at the school. Needleman’s estimate was a bit more conservative at $40,000 to $50,000. The Board of Education has formally endorsed the proposal to convert from oil to natural gas.

The conversion will require some engineering work on the school’s boilers, the likely relining of the chimney, and a new point-of-use hot water system. Needleman estimated the total cost of that work to be $75,000.

“The school has the capital in its sinking fund to pay for this,” he said. “I would be in favor of the Board of Education using those funds and then continuing to contribute $25,000 annually to its capital fund as it does now and in addition add any savings from the conversion to gas. It’s important that the fund get back to $200,000 as quickly as possible.”

Needleman said Essex Meadows is considering the conversion, however, like the town, it needs to complete some information gathering and engineering estimates. The Lee Company, he said, has already indicated it will convert.