Texas has approved a massive expansion of its transmission system to carry more electricity into the Permian Basin, but landowners are pushing back against the plan, citing concerns over property rights. The proposed 765-kilovolt corridors would cross through hundreds of miles of ranches, farms, schools, and rural communities.

Local Impact

At a Texas Senate Committee on Business and Commerce meeting, senators examined the proposed transmission line project and its impact on landowners. Many property owners argued that they received confusing or late notices and struggled to navigate the complicated legal process.

Country music singer Tanya Tucker, who lives on a ranch near Briggs in Burnet County, told lawmakers that one of the proposed routes would cross land where she has recorded music and posed for album and magazine covers. "This isn’t the way we do things in Texas," Tucker said. "You don’t rush in and turn someone’s life upside down."

Concerns Over Process

Landowners argued that the deadline for deciding on the transmission applications is too short, giving them too little time to challenge routes that could permanently affect their land. State law gives the Public Utility Commission 180 days to decide on these applications, but landowners said this is not enough time for projects of this size and complexity.

Some affected property owners testified that they had only weeks to learn the process, find a specialized attorney, review thousands of pages of filings, and submit evidence. "This process should not move so quickly that due process becomes collateral damage," said Paul Grimmie, whose working cattle ranch in San Saba County is crossed by a proposed route.

Original reporting: Dallas TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.