PUC meeting time for power lines has changed
AUSTIN — The Texas Public Utilities Commission has rescheduled the time for a hearing on proposals for new power lines in Burnet County.
Controversy has arisen over one of the proposed routes, which could take the lines along the east border of Lake Buchanan.
The new time for the hearing is 1 p.m. April 15 in Austin at the William B. Travis Building, 1701 N. Congress Ave.
Previously, the hearing was set for 9:30 a.m.
A chartered bus will bring concerned residents to the hearing, County Commissioner Bill Neve said.
Boarding begins at 9 a.m. at the Galloway-Hammond Recreation Center, 1601 S. Water St. in Burnet, which is also U.S. 281.
During the meeting, PUC officials are expected to discuss proposals by the Lower Colorado River Authority Transmission Service Corp. to build transmission lines to transfer wind-generated power from West Texas while crossing the county and going north to Lampasas County.
Because of environmental and safety concerns, state Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen, has said he will protest the route along the lake’s east side.
“It will affect so many Burnet County residents in a very, very bad way,” Aycock said last week.
The other proposed route would run north of the lake through FM 1478, U.S. 281 and U.S. 183 to Kempner, a proposal favored by Burnet County commissioners and others.
However, State Administrative Law Judge Wendy Harvel has recommended construction of the line east of Lake Buchanan.
Extension of the line east of the lake “is the better choice” because it would extend along existing right of way, cost less money and would have less of an environmental impact, Harvel said last month.
The route north of the lake would run without existing right of way and threaten the golden-cheeked warbler and the black-capped vireo, two endangered bird species, Harvel said.
PUC is expected to make a final decision April 26.