The PUC Commissioners held their Open Meeting to discuss the 765kV transmission line CCN applications on Friday morning. Chairman Gleeson issued a memorandum on Thursday, August 6th, saying he requested this open meeting '...because I want to discuss policy issues with my fellow Commissioners and ERCOT related to the development and implementation of the Permian Basin Reliability Plan, including the three 765-kilovolt (kV) import paths required under that plan.
There was no discussion about 765kV policy issues between the Commissioners during this open meeting. Rather, the Commissioners confirmed the status of the five 765kV CCN applications and said they will proceed with their meetings to discuss and act on each of these applications. Chairman Gleeson said a lot of '...resources and time, particularly from landowners and intervenors, has been put into these dockets and so we will run through each of these and give them the due attention that they require as they come before us.'
The PUC Open Meeting started with 80 minutes of Public Comments. Senator Kevin Sparks (Midland), Representative Brad Buckley (Salado) and Representative Shelby Slawson (Granbury & Erath County) each provided the first public comments. All three legislators have called on the PUC to deny all five of the 765kV transmission lines and they criticized the CCN application process and determination of need for 765kV transmission lines. After the legislators, over 20 landowners provided public comments about their concerns with the 765kV transmission lines and CCN application process.
Following the public comments, the PUC Commissioners received an update about the status of the five CCN applications. The SOAH administrative law judges (ALJ) have issued their proposal for decision (PFD) on four of the five CCN applications. Bell County East to Big Hill is the only CCN application that is waiting for the SOAH ALJ's PFD, which is expected to be issued next Tuesday, August 18th. The discussion about the status of the five CCN applications lasted only 8 minutes and there was no discussion between the Commissioners. No discussion about any 765kV policy issues or about anything else.
On Friday morning, the PUC posted an Agenda for their meeting next Friday, August 21st to discuss and take possible action on the Dinosaur to Longshore and Longshore to Drill Hole CCN applications (the north Permian Basin 765kV transmission line). The final topic on the Commissioners' Agenda was a discussion with ERCOT senior management about their plan to audit all the proposed Data Centers as requested by Governor Abbott in his letter dated August 3rd to the PUC and ERCOT.
South Steps of the
Capitol
Hill Country Preservation Coalition (HCPC) is the lead landowner advocacy group fighting the Howard to Solstice 765kV transmission line (San Antonio to Ft Stockton).
HCPC will host a rally sponsored by Rep Wes Virdell called Press Pause on 765kV transmission lines and Data Centers on the south steps of the Capitol from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Wednesday, August 19th, before the House State Affairs Committee 765kV Hearing starts at 2 p.m.
Speakers include Amy Nelson, who is Willie Nelson's daughter, and Sid Miller, the Texas Agriculture Commissioner. Dave Clark will speak at the rally on behalf of Friends of the San Saba (FOSS).
Important Austin
Meetings this Week
Landowners are disappointed the Commissioners did not discuss 765kV transmission line policy issues at the PUC open meeting on August 14th. Chairman Gleeson said the Commissioners will move forward with meetings to review, discuss and decide each of the five 765kV CCN applications.
Oncor's public relations coalition issued a post on Wednesday, August 12th, that aggressively argues 765kV transmission lines are needed now to prevent severe power shortages in the Permian Basin and to maintain reliability of the Texas Electric Grid. Oncor and its 765kV Advocates are arguing for approval of all the 765kV CCN applications now.
Landowners are expected to show up in force at the House State Affairs Committee Hearing on Wednesday, August 19th. The PUC Hearing on Friday, August 21st, will be the first time the PUC Commissioners discuss and decide one of the 765kV transmission line applications. This PUC meeting will likely reveal how the Commissioners could decide the other 765kV CCN applications.