For Easthampton and Northampton, a conclusion is in the works to lift the natural gas moratorium that has restricted new service to residents and business owners in the two cities for two years.

Columbia Gas of Massachusetts is negotiating an agreement with Holyoke Gas & Electric, and Columbia Gas spokeswoman Sheila Doiron said the plans are to build a new connecting pipeline to more directly serve Holyoke.

This proposed connection would free up capacity on the Northampton lateral which is currently full.

“It’s a long process,” Doiron said. “It might be up to a couple of years until the pipeline is in service.”

The Northampton lateral is a spur pipeline that extends north from the Tennessee Gas Pipeline in southern Massachusetts through Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties.

Doiron said the supply capacity for the pipeline was intended to serve the demand for several years, but the demand for natural gas grew faster than expected.

As the pipeline reached capacity, Columbia Gas put a moratorium in place for Easthampton and Northampton about two years ago.

Around that time, Berkshire Gas, which taps into the pipeline, also issued moratoriums in Amherst, Hadley and Hatfield, as well as in parts of Franklin County.

Mayors of Easthampton and Northampton say the two-year ban has not been easy.

Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz said the moratorium affected the development of two housing projects on Pleasant Street. And Easthampton Mayor Karen Cadieux said the restriction has made it difficult for the city to be competitive when it comes to opening new businesses.

But a large concern for the two cities is residents who would like to heat their homes with natural gas. The mayors said many new homeowners now use propane to fuel their heating systems.

“Propane is very expensive,” Cadieux said. “Gas is a plus in housing ... It’s very economical.”

Both city officials said they hope the ban would be lifted soon.

“It’s been a long two years,” Cadieux said. “I’m thrilled to hear that the end of this moratorium is in sight.”

Caitlin Ashworth can be reached at cashworth@gazettenet.com.

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