Burnet County leaders file testimonies against state transmission line project

Three members of the Burnet County Commissioners Court have filed official testimony in the case of a controversial state transmission line project, and each of them expressed their explicit concern that the line could have huge impacts on the county and the plans for it may not follow the letter of the law.

Burnet County Judge Bryan Wilson, Precinct 2 Commissioner Damon Beierle, and Precinct 1 Commissioner Jim Luther all filed testimonies on May 13 as intervenors representing the county in the case of the Bell County East to Big Hill 765-kV Transmission Project. These testimonies will be used in the coming Public Utility Commission of Texas hearings in June that will determine when, how, and if the project moves forward.

The project is of special concern to Burnet County, as all proposed routes for the transmission line pass through it. If the line were approved in its current form, it would run over 200 miles between Bell and Schleicher counties, and bring 200-300 foot easements, massive eminent domain purchases, 18 story steel towers every 1,000 feet, and the highest voltage transmission lines in Texas to Burnet County and beyond. 

The proposed line would be jointly constructed by Oncor Electric Delivery and the Lower Colorado River Authority, who filed their official application with the PUCT in March to move forward with the project. Hundreds of intervenors have filed to get involved with the case in the hopes of altering or potentially stopping the project before the PUCT makes a final decision in September.

Wilson’s testimony

Judge Wilson’s testimony emphasized the potential cultural, economic, ecological, and logistical impacts that the proposed transmission line would have on Burnet County. 

You can see the judge’s full testimony at this link: Wilson testimony.

DailyTrib used select excerpts from Wilson’s testimony to compile the following:

• “If these routes are authorized, the transition from rural ranches, small businesses and private property to an industrial corridor will be irreversible.”

• “The placement of a 765kV transmission line across raw land in Burnet County represents an industrial transformation of the Texas Hill Country that extends far beyond a simple utility easement. These “electrical super-highways” require a massive physical footprint, typically necessitating a clear-cut right-of-way between 200 and 400 feet wide to accommodate double-circuit towers that stand up to 200 feet tall.” 

• “When cutting through previously undeveloped land, this project does not merely parallel existing infrastructure; it carves a permanent scar through native ecosystems, fragments wildlife habitats, and disrupts the historical continuity of heritage ranches.”

• “The towers (of the Western Regional Radio System) were funded with Federal Department of Homeland Security grants and continue to be operated and maintained by WRRS under the original Federal agreements. Oncor and LCRA have failed to produce any studies or data to demonstrate that they have protected this critical emergency management communication system. Additionally, LCRA has not included any proposed lines that operate near their competing communication towers.”

• “Several of the proposed segments pass near state-purchased land dedicated to the Texas Parks and Wildlife new Post Oak Bend State Park. This undermines the preservation of the dedicated funding purposes. ONCOR and LCRA deliberately chose these streams beds even though the PURA directs the avoidance of these types of environmentally sensitive routes. 

•  “The total disregard of the historic significance is contrary to the state and local efforts by the Texas Historical Commission, the Burnet County Historical Commission, and the Texas Department of Agriculture. 

• “The proposed lines fail to address the impacts of these lines on calving, forage production, apiary production and general health of the land that makes a significant portion of the $2.7 billion economy.”

Beierle’s testimony

Beierle’s testimony highlighted his concerns that the 765-kV project had been “fast tracked” and that it could negatively impact wildlife, private property, and the health and safety of residents.

You can see the commissioner’s full testimony at this link: Beierle testimony.

DailyTrib used select excerpts from Beierle’s testimony to compile the following:

• “One of the most troubling aspects of this proposal is the lack of clear, independently verified evidence demonstrating that a project of this scale is necessary. Rural Texans are being asked to surrender private property rights, accept long-term visual and environmental impacts, and assume unknown health and safety risks without transparent data proving the actual need for these transmission lines.”

• “I am also troubled by the lack of transparency of the process. Landowners were not involved until after the decision to build this project at a 765kV level. No input from landowners was invited or presented to the Commission before Oncor and LCRA were already selected to build the transmission lines.”

• “The citizens of Burnet County, Texas should have been included in all steps before and during the process, not after. The burden should not now fall on rural communities to absorb permanent impacts simply because transmission expansion is being broadly promoted as future planning.”

• Texas has long recognized the importance of private property rights. Many of the affected properties in Burnet County are legacy ranches held by families for generations. These lands are not merely economic assets; they are part of the identity, history, and long-term stewardship of our region.”

• “The use of eminent domain authority for projects lacking clearly demonstrated necessity and publicly-vetted decisions undermines public confidence in the regulatory process and places disproportionate burdens on rural landowners who receive no direct benefit from the infrastructure crossing their property.”

• “Burnet County is not an industrial corridor. It is a rural landscape made up of working ranches, multi-generational family properties, critical watersheds, wildlife habitats, historical resources, and unique archaeological areas that represent the cultural and environmental heritage of Central Texas. The construction of massive 765kV transmission infrastructure through these areas would cause permanent and irreversible impacts to the land, the people who steward it, and the rural character that defines our county.” 

• “The proposed transmission corridors threaten to fragment habitat, disrupt nesting patterns, increase noise and construction disturbances, and permanently alter the open landscape these birds rely upon for nesting and hunting. Bald eagles are federally protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and other federal wildlife protections. The Commission should require comprehensive wildlife impact assessments before approving routes through known eagle habitat and migratory corridors.”

Luther’s testimony 

Luther’s testimony explicitly stated his direct concerns for the transmission line’s potential impact on landowners, public lands, and the Burnet County community’s well-being.

You can see the commissioner’s full testimony at this link: Luther testimony.

• “The installation of 160 to 200-foot (or taller) transmission towers and associated lines would impose a permanent visual and physical burden on homes, ranches, and agricultural land.”

• “Regardless of whether compensation is provided through eminent domain, these individuals would be required to live indefinitely with large-scale infrastructure that alters the character, use, and value of their properties. And for some property owners, it could have more specific harm, interfering with their houses and other buildings on the property, areas of the property that have historic, cultural and sentimental value, and fields, and/or grazing areas. Similarly, those living in the immediate area along the proposed corridor will also suffer, only without eminent domain compensation.”

• “There are significant concerns related to the potential impact on Post Oak State Park, particularly its landscape, wildlife, and natural habitat. The introduction of high-voltage transmission infrastructure could disrupt ecosystems, fragment habitats, and diminish the scenic qualities that define the park and surrounding Hill Country environment.”

• “The project raises important questions about public health and safety for both residents and visitors. The proximity of large transmission lines to homes, recreational areas, and public spaces introduces concerns that warrant careful consideration, including safety risks and the overall quality of life for those who live in or visit the area.”

• “Obviously, because this project has been planned, someone believes that these types of high-power lines are safe. However, Burnet County does not believe it should serve as the testing ground to prove or disprove this thought. Until scientific studies can be completed on the short- and long-term effects of these high voltage lines, it is reckless to place them near homeowners when there are alternative established routes available that do not interfere with private property.”

• “I fully recognize the need for the State to address power issues for the future. However, the placement of high-power transmission lines inside Burnet County will destroy the county’ s natural beauty, erode efforts to sustain and preserve the unique terrain, interfere with necessary communication systems, potentially destroy the tourism business, and place the public health at risk.”

dakota@thepicayune.com