More than 100 people attended a public meeting regarding the proposed 765 kV Dinosaur-Longshore transmission powerlines and were urged to tell their stories prior to a Senate hearing set Wednesday, July 29 in Austin.
Representatives from the state legislature, as well as from the Erath Somervell County SubRegional Planning Commission (Chapter 391) and American Energy Works, an advocacy nonprofit organization.
“Our goal is to get these lines stopped,” volunteer Emily Howle said at the beginning of the meeting. Howle emphasized that the effort to stop the project had brought neighbors and counties together instead of causing infighting.
‘We are stronger together’ T-shirts could be seen throughout the crowd.
County Judge Brandon Huckabee offered thanks to Emily and other volunteers like Joanna Friebele who have aided in the fight to stop the lines.
Judge Huckabee detailed a letter he sent June 29 to Oncor with a list of questions they had promised to answer following the May 27, 2026, public meeting.
“To date, we have not received any responses to that letter,” Huckabee said.
State Representative Shelby Slawson was also present at the meeting, encouraging those who planned to attend Wednesday’s Senate hearing to plan for a long day, and to know that their 2 minutes of testimony matter.
Slawson also encouraged the crowd to know they did have friends in the Senate hearing committee including Republicans Donna Campbell, Brent Hagenbuch, Lois Kolkhorst and Kevin Sparks who all signed an amicus brief along with a total of 43 Texas legislators.
Rep. Slawson expects the House of Representatives to also have a hearing, but a date has not yet been set.
Representative David Cook, who is running for Texas Senate District 22, also sent a member of his staff with a statement to the public meeting, encouraging as many citizens as possibly can to testify at the Wednesday hearing in person.
(For more information regarding testifying or sending letters in advance, see the letter to the editor on page A3 in this edition).
Volunteers Friebele and Howle both presented some hope for citizens in attendance stating in the Longshore to Drillhole portion of the project, 500 filings had been submitted. On Erath County’s portion from Dinosaur to Longshore, nearly 5,800 filings had been submitted.
“I think we broke the PUC, at least temporarily,” Friebele said.
Friebele referenced the proposal for decision (PFD) of an ALJ (Administrative Law Judge) hearing that was expected July 14 and as of press time had not occurred.
The PFD is a written document containing the ALJ’s finding of fact and conclusions of law based on the evidence presented (including filings). The ALJ’s role is similar to a trial judge in that they oversee proceedings, make sure the rules are followed and decide what evidence is admissible.
While instructing those in attendance how to make their voices heard regarding 2-minute testimony it was encouraged to present an alternative solution, such as local generation and local transmission.
“We want to make sure your voice is heard,” Molly Vogt, state director of American Energy Works said.
Though the Senate does not allow online testimony, letters can be sent to the hearing and are being collected. Letters will need to be delivered to the Courthouse or emailed by Monday, July 27, 2026 at 5 p.m.
Printed letters can be dropped off: 1) County Judge Brandon Huckabee’s office at the courthouse Monday - Friday 8am-5pm 2) Erath County - Don Jones Justice Center - 24 Hour Drop - Corner of College St. and Graham St. (Sign on window) If you are dropping off copies of your one page letter, please make sure there are 15 copies if possible.
“We’re Texans we would do anything for our neighbor, but if this is not going to help someone, then we have a problem ( regarding the transmission line project),” Howle said. “I thank you for taking the time to jump through all of these hoops. It’s no secret that 600 people were removed. Here is your opportunity to tell the story,” Howle said.
Additional information regarding this project can be found in the following editions of The Dublin Citizen: Dec. 18, 2025; Jan. 1, 2026; Jan. 5, 2026; Feb. 5, 2026; Feb. 26, 2026; March 12, 2026; March 26, 2026; April 23, 2026; April 30, 2026; June 4, 2026 and June 23, 2026.
To watch all Chapter 391 public meetings go to Erath County’s YouTube.