Texas PUC Delays Decision on Controversial Transmission Line

Austin, Texas — The Texas Public Utility Commission (PUC) delayed a decision on Tuesday regarding the location of a new 150-mile high-voltage transmission line planned by Entergy. This project is intended to supply electricity to the rapidly growing suburbs of Houston.

After hours of discussion, the commissioners decided to revisit the issue in their October meeting, leaving landowners and local officials uncertain about the future. PUC Chair Thomas Gleeson expressed his inclination towards a route that would cross Lake Livingston, a crucial water source for Houston.

“I’m still not prepared to make a decision. I will say for me, I think this comes down to 10 and 10 Mod D,” Gleeson said, prompting varied reactions from affected communities.

In Montgomery County, residents like homeowner Grant Darnell voiced their concerns over the impact on their properties. “We’re all losing property. We’re frustrated by this process,” Darnell stated, echoing frustrations shared by others, including George Webster, who noted that the line would run directly over his home.

Many residents claimed they had not received adequate notifications about the project, which they believe restricted their opportunities to voice objections. “They didn’t get a letter and the notification of this has been horrific,” Darnell added.

Lake Livingston, one of Texas’s largest reservoirs, supplies nearly 70 percent of Houston’s drinking water. Local officials and the Trinity River Authority (TRA), which manages the lake, oppose any plans that would place transmission towers in the reservoir.

TRA board member Benny Fogelman stated, “TRA opposes any route… that would result in the transmission lines crossing across and above Lake Livingston because the additional piers and support structures needed for the proposed project would create obstacles and public safety threats that currently do not exist.”

Environmental concerns also loom large. Previously identified dioxins and PCBs in the lakebed sediments have raised alarms among health agencies, and residents worry that construction might disturb these contaminants, thereby threatening water quality for millions.

Entergy representatives argued that the project is essential for improving reliability across Southeast Texas. Company attorney Everett Britt stated that they were eager to answer questions but would save most comments for their closing statement. They noted that the planned line would help to meet the growing energy demands in various counties including Montgomery, Walker, Polk, and Trinity.

Entergy maintains that all proposed routes are technically feasible and take into account factors like cost, environmental impact, and the number of homes affected. As both sides prepare additional filings for the next PUC meeting, residents in Willis are urging the commission to reject routes that would affect their homes. Meanwhile, Houston leaders and the TRA continue to oppose any route through the lake.

The critical decision that could significantly alter communities from Willis to Lake Livingston remains pending.