Erath County Commissioners Court has officially said “no” to the Dinosaur Longshore 765 KV Project.
A resolution against the project in Erath County was unanimously approved at the Monday, Dec. 23 court meeting.
The resolution states the county’s new radio tower system (which will be complete in June 2026) could possibly be affected by the large transmission towers associated with the Dinosaur Longshore 765 KV Project.
“Whereas, the Oncor Electric Delivery proposal to construct a 765 KV transmission line commonly referenced as the ‘Dinosaur to Longshore’ project would introduce large, high-profile transmission towers across portions of Erath County; and Whereas, Erath County has made substantial investments in modernizing and strengthening countywide publicsafety communications, including microwave backhaul systems that serve law enforcement, fire, EMS, emergency management, and dispatch operations across the region; and Whereas, the County’s microwave network relies on precise line-of-sight and unobstructed Fresnel Zones between communication sites, and the placement of tall transmission structures within these pathways can significantly degrade or disrupt signal performance; and Whereas, primary risk arises from the physical placement and height of the transmission towers, which – if located within the microwave line-of-sight or Fresnel Zone – will obstruct, scatter, or attenuate critical communications signals,” the resolution states.
Within the resolution, the commissioners court states they are formally opposed to any proposed routing until: ■ Oncor provides detailed and verifiable location date for all proposed transmission structures within the county
■ A joint engineering review confirms that no transmission tower will obstruct the line-of-sign or first Fresnel Zone of any Erath County m i c r o w a v e communication path
■ Oncor commits to rerouting, relocating or modifying any transmission structures shown to interfere with public-safety communications of essential county infrastructure
■ Stakeholders – including property owners, emergency responders, public-safety agencies and local governments – are meaningfully engaged in evaluating impacts and alternatives The resolution also urges the Public Utility Commission, state legislators and regional transmission planning authorities to: ■ Require transparent and complete engineering disclosures prior to route approval
■ Prioritize the protection of public- safety communications infrastructure
■ Support alternative routes, undergrounding or technology solutions where necessary to maintain critical infrastructure reliability The resolution also has an 18-page study that the engineers associated with the radio tower project have assisted the county on. The resolution is being sent to the PUC, Oncor, Senator Brian Birdwell and Representative Shelby Slawson.
“It’s a stacked deck against anyone, but we will do what we can,” County Judge Brandon Huckabee said. “This isn’t the end.”
The county is also in talks with the city of Stephenville and surrounding counties to see what further opposition can be done.
Both Commissioners Sherman Edwards and Albert Ray told Huckabee thank you for his work on this, along with everyone else involved.
During public comments, several Erath County residents also spoke out against the project.
Joe Lance Trinque who lives on the South Fork of the Paluxy, in Erath County where three proposed routes are being considered spoke.
“765 KV transmission line. The longest powerline ever built is proposed to be erected right down the middle of the Paluxy River Valley,” he said. “The Paluxy, one of only two undammed rivers in the state, is a jewel of central Texas and is the crown jewel in Dinosaur Valley State Park. It is also the critical habitat for the Endangered Golden Cheek Warbler, the only native species entirely propagated in our great state.”
Trinque said he was at the meeting to make sure the commissioners court heard the plea of Texas land owners and the wildlife that depends on them, to exercise their authority to stop or reroute this project.
“It’s my understanding this unprecedented transmission line will provide power for the construction of Artificial Intelligence plants in Big Spring. Are we as Texans going to lay down at the altar of Big Tech, the rights of Texas land owners and the very survival of an iconic Texas species?” he said. “My intelligence is not considerable, but it is not artificial. It seems to me and many Texas landowners that are forever affected by these proposed lines, that the developers of these AI plants should build their own power generating facilities and not destroy the habitat of an endangered species and trample on the rights of property owners.”
Resident Jay Rusk, who owns a piece of property south of Stephenville where one of the proposed lines will go through the middle of it, spoke against the project.
“This is not what any of us would prefer,” he said. “I know there isn’t a heck of a lot we can do. I’ve already talked to their lawyers, I already have lawyers fighting it.”
Rusk told the commissioners he appreciated what they were doing, but asked if it was within their power to influence the direction of the line to move over existing lines already in place.
“There is already a large powerline with six gas pipelines that run right beside it,” he said. “Run this big, giant monstrosity right down those other existing powerlines.”
How to File a comment with Public Utility Commission before CCN is issued Environmental activist and Erath County resident Joanna Friebele also spoke in public comment, thanking the commissioners for their action and provided residents a way to file a comment with the PUC before a certificate of convenience and necessity, the first step in the eminent domain process, begins. The CCN will be issued Feb. 26 (unless something changes).
It is important to have all the information you want to share in a word document or PDF since there is no way to type. You are given 20 minutes, but it takes about 5 to 10. Your comments will go on public record.
Go to www.puc.texas.gov, in the menu bar across the top, select Filings. Under filings, select the top left option Interchange Filer.
Under get started, click