In a significant development, an increasing number of Texas lawmakers are urging the state’s electric grid managers and utility regulators to pause a large-scale and contentious project aimed at constructing transmission lines. These lines would traverse thousands of acres of private land to supply electricity to oil companies operating in the West Texas oil fields.
State Senator Charles Schwertner, a Republican from Georgetown, expressed on Friday that the Public Utility Commission of Texas should reject the applications for this infrastructure project. He indicated that the Legislature plans to revisit the application process, which was established in 2023, during their upcoming 90th legislative session next year.
In his letter, Schwertner, who chairs the Senate Committee on Business and Commerce, emphasized the urgent need for a comprehensive reform of the application process before any further progress could be made on the proposals.
Supporting Schwertner’s stance, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick took to social media platform X to assert that while the transmission lines are essential, they should not infringe upon private property rights. He noted that testimonies presented in a recent legislative hearing highlighted significant flaws in the current process employed by the PUC for proposing and approving transmission lines.
Patrick stated, “If these lines are going to be built, which many believe must be built, then the PUC’s transmission approval process must not only prioritize strengthening the grid but also protect Texas landowners and communities.”
The remarks from Schwertner and Patrick followed a tense legislative hearing earlier in the week concerning the Permian Basin Reliability Plan, a transmission initiative put forth by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, the state’s grid management authority. Over 100 individuals provided testimony—some even performing, such as country singer Tanya Tucker—over a marathon 15-hour session, voicing concerns about inadequate notification from utilities regarding the proposal.
Many participants urged regulators to reject plans for three 765 kV transmission lines intended to transport electricity from East to West Texas, aimed at meeting the escalating energy demands of the state’s oil and gas sector. If constructed, these lines would become the largest transmission lines in Texas. Residents raised alarms over potential environmental impacts along the proposed routes, particularly in Central Texas, where the landscape is marked by rivers and hills. The estimated cost of the project is around $33 billion, which will ultimately be borne by ratepayers.
Jada Jo Smith, founder and president of the Hill Country Preservation Coalition, representing landowners affected by the proposed routes, shared, “We hope the PUC heeds the concerns of the Legislature and thousands of Texas landowners by denying the current applications.” She recounted how landowners, both long-standing and new, united in their opposition, conveying a shared message that the plans are misdirected and threaten their way of life.
The utility commission had not responded to inquiries by the time of publication. However, Mark Bell, president of the Association of Electric Companies of Texas, indicated that the organization supports a thorough review of the proposed transmission line routes.
“As we heard during Wednesday’s hearing, it’s become clear that the existing transmission routing process has been inadequate for the geographic expanse of these projects,” Bell noted. He affirmed their commitment to collaborating with affected landowners, communities, and legislative leaders to achieve a more robust and reliable Texas grid.
Oncor Electric, the transmission company tasked with the majority of the planned lines, stated it is assessing the feedback from state officials and reiterated the importance of proceeding with the project as initially planned.
Kerri Dunn, the senior communications director for Oncor, remarked, “The timely implementation of these projects remains critical for meeting Texas’ growing energy needs and maintaining the reliability of our state’s electric grid.” She assured that Oncor is dedicated to ongoing collaboration with state officials and landowners to address concerns while supporting infrastructure essential for Texas’s future.
This transmission line initiative gained legislative approval during the 2023 session, with a bill directing ERCOT to develop a blueprint for new lines and the utility commission to endorse it. The proposal passed with overwhelming support in both the Texas House and Senate, facing minimal opposition at the time.
The oil and gas sector has lobbied for this project in Austin for years, contending that the current electricity supply is insufficient to support fossil fuel production. Industry representatives have emphasized the need to expedite the project.
Todd Staples, president of the Texas Oil and Gas Association, underscored the urgency of addressing the electricity transmission shortage in the Permian Basin, which he claims is hindering production growth. “This has been needed for more than 10 years,” Staples stated, pointing out that while West Texas has been contributing to the development of transmission projects elsewhere in the state, its own needs remain unmet.
Lawmakers have expressed concerns, stating they did not anticipate the project would reach such a magnitude during the bill’s passage. They interrogated regulators regarding the project’s scale and associated costs, questioning whether residents have been given adequate time to consider the implications.
State Senator Kevin Sparks, a Republican from Midland, highlighted the need for caution when it comes to seizing private property, advocating for exploring all potential solutions before proceeding with such measures. Meanwhile, State Senator Lois Kolkhorst, a Republican from Brennan, called for a suspension of the proposal to ensure thorough consideration.
“I just want to make sure that we are fully aware. We voted on House Bill 5066, and I’m not sure we knew what that was going to become,” Kolkhorst expressed. “I just want to make sure we’re doing this right.”
