Burnet County considers intergovernmental commission to combat transmission line; community workshop Feb. 3
The Burnet County Commissioners Court continues to seek ways to effectively advocate for itself in an ongoing fight against a state transmission line project that threatens to cut through the north end of the county, potentially impacting thousands of acres of private property. Pictured here are Pct. 1 Commissioner Jim Luther (left), Pct. 2 Commissioner Damon Beierle, County Judge Bryan Wilson, Pct. 3 Commissioner Chad Collier, and Pct. 4 Commissioner Joe Don Dockery. Staff photo by Dakota Morrissiey
Burnet County leadership is reaching out to other local governments to investigate the possibility of forming an official regional planning commission, which could potentially offer more power in the ongoing opposition to a state transmission line project that would cut through the north end of the county. A public workshop to provide updates and further discussion on the Bell County East to Big Hill 765 kV Transmission Line Project is scheduled for Feb. 3 in Burnet.
The Burnet County Commissioners Court deliberated the formation of the regional planning commission during its regular meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 27. The commission would be a state-sanctioned entity, supported by Chapter 391 of the Texas Local Government Code, which allows the formation of a coalition of related governments to cooperate in regional planning efforts. Some believe that such a commission could help Burnet County further advocate for itself in the transmission line talks, but the exact benefits and detriments still need to be determined.
“I’m trying to find out how (a regional planning commission) can help us (with the transmission line negotiations) without creating a whole other level of government,” Burnet County Judge Bryan Wilson told DailyTrib.
Ultimately the court took no action on the formation of a commission on Tuesday, but the judge and county’s legal representation committed to reaching out to other local governments– like the cities of Burnet, Marble Falls, and Bertram, and possibly Llano and Williamson counties– to see if there was any interest in partnering for the transmission line fight.
Burnet County will hold a public workshop on the ongoing transmission line opposition talks at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 3 at the Burnet County AgriLife Extension building, 607 N. Vanderveer in Burnet. This will be the second such meeting the county has held in recent weeks.
Background on the Bell County East to Big Hill 765 kV Transmission Line
The Bell County East to Big Hill 765-kV Transmission Project has been on Burnet County’s radar since May 2025. Since then, public opposition and protest has risen and the county has officially taken up opposition to the state project.
The transmission line project’s intention is to bring power to West Texas, but many Burnet County residents believe that it would be at the expense of Hill Country landowners.
Read the DailyTrib stories below to learn more:
- ”Massive transmission line would cut through Burnet County,” June 6, 2025
- ”Burnet County considers careful next steps in response to transmission line,” June 25, 2025
- “Burnet County seeks legal counsel for transmission line project,” July 10, 2025
- “Burnet County OKs funds for transmission line legal help,” July 22, 2025
- “Power line project protesters: Why here?,” Oct. 13, 2025
- “Questions raised, but few answered, at transmission line town hall,” Oct. 24, 2025
- “Burnet County takes official stance against transmission line,” Oct. 29, 2025
- “Oncor and LCRA update transmission line timeline,” Nov. 4, 2025
- “Llano County joins transmission line opposition,” Nov. 11, 2025
- “Transmission line opposition creates protest schedule and theme song ‘Two Hundred Miles of Greed’,” Nov. 24, 2025