More than 450 attended a March 17 meeting at Lingleville ISD to get information and file comments on the upcoming Dinosaur to Longshore 765 kV transmission line. A primary goal of the meeting was to inform those in attendance on how to file as an intervenor or protestor in the construction and placement of the miles of largescale transmission towers prior to Oncor’s hearing with the Public Utility Commission. (The deadline to file was Monday, March 23.)
As of the beginning of this week, more than 3,000 have filed as intervenors or protestors in the section of the project. A meeting has been set Saturday, March 28 at 10 a.m. in the Lingleville cafeteria to detail what intervenors can do next in filing their testimony. (Those who would like to volunteer in helping their neighbors can meet at 9 a.m.)
“You’ll see these for miles,” said volunteer Emily Howle to the crowd in attendance. “Your land will decrease in value just being near proximity to them let alone devalue your property if they end up on your land.”
Erath County Judge Brandon Huckabee was in attendance to describe how officials are representing local concerns by filing as a Chapter 391 Commission (subregional planning commission) with Somervell County (as well as meetings with Oncor and PUC officials). Huckabee also reported meetings are expected with PUC and other interested entities. County employees also volunteered at the meeting to help those needing technical assistance in filing.
The judge also said the desire is for the project not to go through Erath County at all, not just moving from the preferred route in the county to another section.
Joanna Friebele then led the crowd through the filing process as the screen was projected. Following filing as an intervenor or protestor, filers have until April 8 to submit a testimony. Hearings will be held in Austin. Friebele said that although protestors and intervenors aren’t likely to be called to speak, their comments will be on record and have an impact on the decisions made in the project.
For more information on the local efforts regarding the placement of this project, the group can be found at “STOP 765kv Transmission Lines in Erath County and surrounding areas” on Facebook.