Burnet County and city of Burnet join forces to battle state transmission line project
Stock image of transmission line for illustrative purposes only
On Tuesday, Feb. 25, the governments of Burnet County and the city of Burnet voted to join forces and form a regional planning commission in the hopes of putting up a stronger fight against a state transmission line project that looms over the Highland Lake area.
Burnet County leaders believe this new commission, backed by Texas Local Government Code Chapter 391, could have more legal power and leverage than solo local governments would have in the ongoing battle against the Bell County East to Big Hill 765 kV Transmission Line. The line would run over 200 miles total, from Bell County to Schleicher County, passing through Burnet County along the way. According to the project developers, it is meant to bring power to far west Texas to help power an array of rising power needs for cryptocurrency mining, “green hydrogen” projects, industrial uses, data centers, and the electrification of the petroleum industry.
Critics of the transmission line say that if it is approved, it would likely have severe impacts on property owners across northern Burnet County, resulting in large eminent domain seizures, reduced property values, and negative impacts on the daily lives of nearby residents. The line would likely require 200-300 foot easements and 15-18 story towers suspending the highest voltage powerlines that Texas has ever seen.
“I just wanted to voice my absolute enthusiasm and support for a 391 commission,” Burnet County resident Clare Nelson said prior to the Commissioners Court’s decision. “We need more unification.”
Nelson lives in the Ranches at Black Buck Ridge subdivision, which could see the transmission line run right past its front gates.
Another Black Buck Ridge resident, Beth Kunz, also voiced her support.
“I think a 391 commission goes a long way for us to find ways to delay this project until the (Texas) Legislature gets back in session,” she said.
Burnet County Judge Bryan Wilson explained that resident support is of paramount importance right now.
To file a comment on the project, visit this link and enter the project number 58559. Previously filed comments can be viewed at this link.
The Burnet County Highland Lakes Sub-Regional Planning Commission
The basic purpose of the newly-dubbed Burnet County Highland Lakes Sub-Regional Planning Commission is to encourage and permit local governmental units to join and cooperate to improve the health, safety, and general welfare of their residents. This “purpose” is defined broadly, ranging from mutual transportation system upgrades to preservation of local historical cultural values.
While there is not an explicit path yet defined for how the commission will combat the transmission line, local leaders believe it will help in negotiations with the state entities behind the project, like the Public Utility Commission of Texas. As of Wednesday, Feb. 25, an official application for the project had not been filed with the PUCT, but Oncor Electric Delivery and the Lower Colorado River Authority are expected to file in March. Once filed, interested parties will have 30 days to get their comments in before the window is closed and the project moves forward.
The Burnet County Commissioners Court voted on Tuesday morning to form the commission and appointed two representatives from the county, Precinct 2 Commissioner Damon Beierle and Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace Frank Reilly, to serve on it. Later that same day, the city of Burnet voted to officially join the commission, appointing Mayor Gary Wideman and Councilor Joyce Laudenschlager to serve.
Burnet County Judge Bryan Wilson stated on Tuesday that he would also be reaching out to the cities of Marble Falls and Bertram to see if they were interested in joining the commission as well.
The proposed lines do not come near Burnet city limits, but City Manager David Vaughn said it was still in the city’s interest to join forces with the county to oppose them.
“You may not live in the county where these (projects) are, where these things are occurring, but these things impact you,” Vaughn told DailyTrib. “You go by them on your way to the lake, you go by them on the way to Marble Falls. It changes everything about the community that people move here for. There’s a lot to figure out, and there’s a lot that we’ll learn as we go. But, I think we’re going to look back and say, ‘this is a really good tool for when we want to use the hammer.'”
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.
The project was mandated by the Texas Legislature in 2023 through House Bill 5066. The bill aimed to increase the reliability of the Texas electric grid, and also specifically targeted bringing power to the Permian Basin region of West Texas.
The Public Utility Commission of Texas took on the task, requesting the Electric Reliability Council of Texas to conduct a study on the power needs of the Permian Basin, resulting in the Permian Basin Reliability Study.
The results of that study showed a massive increase in the projected demand for electricity from that region, mostly to satisfy an estimated addition of 11,695 megawatts to the grid from the non-oil and gas industry. Per ERCOT’s study, this load would be made up of 59 percent cryptocurrency operations, 22 percent “green hydrogen” projects, 13 percent “other” commercial and industrial projects, and 6 percent datacenters.
Once ERCOT’s study was completed, the PUCT tasked Oncor Electric Delivery and the Lower Colorado River Authority with devising a plan to deliver more power to the Permian Basin. After months of planning the organizations created a preliminary plan and route for 765 kilovolt powerlines to be run from Central Texas to West Texas. Burnet County was notified of the plans, and the fact that it would likely be included in all possible routes, in May 2025.
The project, to be paid for by the state, has an estimated total cost of $33 billion, and would include three major lines, including the Bell County East to Big Hill project.
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
- “Troxclair takes public stance against transmission line project,” Jan. 20, 2026
- “Burnet County considers intergovernmental commission to combat transmission line; community workshop Feb. 3,” Jan. 29, 2026
- “Burnet County group hosting anti-transmission line meeting series: ‘The time to advocate for our area is now,” Feb. 20, 2026
Does anybody else find it to be a kick in the crotch by the self anointed stewards of the Highland Lakes, LCRA, who are just fine with ripping a huge swath through Burnet County, over the Colorado River and on out to Eldorado. I did not realize the LCRA had any business out in Schleicher County?