Burnet County seeks legal counsel for transmission line project
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The Burnet County Commissioners Court hopes to meet with legal counsel July 22 to determine what, if anything, can be done to alter the proposed course of a massive transmission line project through the northern part of the county.
The law firm scheduled to meet with the court in executive session July 8 canceled at the last minute, the matter was tabled, and Burnet County general counsel Randy Leavitt was tasked with finding a new firm by the July 22 meeting.
Burnet County Judge Bryan Wilson recused himself from the court’s July 8 decision and discussion of the project, stating:
“Today, I am going to recuse myself even though there is no evidence or chance that I will receive a direct financial benefit from any financial action being considered by this Commissioners Court action to represent the county or all residents for the county until I can complete research and obtain more information.
“I will choose not to participate in this executive session today.”
Judge Wilson told DailyTrib.com that one of the proposed transmission line routes would pass through his own property. He recused himself and abstained from the court’s vote to make sure he didn’t cross any ethical or legal lines.
“The line is scheduled to go through one of my properties,” he said. “I don’t want to do anything unethical or anything illegal. The only thing I want to do is make sure these giant entities follow what the law says.”
The Bell County to Big Hill 765-kilovolt Transmission Project is one of the largest power projects in Texas history, representing the first 765-kilovolt lines in the state and spanning about 200 miles between Bell and Schleicher counties.
All of the current proposed routes run through northern Burnet County, and local officials have been scrambling to see if plans can be changed since learning of the project in late May.
Much of the concerns surrounding the project comes from landowners along the proposed routes who fear environmental and health impacts along with diminished property values and personal conflicts.
The Bell County to Big Hill project is part of a larger effort by the Public Utility Commission of Texas to strengthen the state’s electric grid. It will be built jointly by the Lower Colorado River Authority and Oncor.
The project’s current timeline shows final route determination scheduled for summer 2026 with an expected completion date of summer 2030.