Power line testimony concludes
Posted On: Sunday, Jan. 24 2010 02:26 AM
By Jade Ortego
Killeen Daily HeraldTestimony that will help judges decide on the ultimate placement of electrical pylons in Bell and Lampasas counties concluded Wednesday, and area landowners anxiously wait for March 1 to learn the official decision.
In early June, Oncor Electric Delivery sent out letters to landowners in Bell, Burnet and Lampasas counties that would be affected by a project, called the Newton-Killeen 345-KV CREZ Transmission Line, that would require the construction of 12-story high lattice-shaped electrical towers.
The length of the line of towers differs depending on the route, but construction on all routes will require clear-cutting and bulldozing of 160-foot wide easements.
Last summer, Lynn Eyberg created the group Save the Lampasas Inc. to oppose a proposed route, labeled 308, that would travel through the Lampasas River Valley, and potentially near homes, over sensitive environments, pristine land, archeological sites and endangered species' habitats.
Texas Parks and Wildlife representatives located in the area a threatened species, the nesting bald eagle, two endangered species, the golden-cheeked warbler and the black-capped vireo, and a monitored species, the Guadalupe bass.
Oncor presented this 31-mile trail through rural Bell and Lampasas counties, the longest proposed route, as their preferred path on Oct. 7.
"All of the routes are viable that were put forth," Catherine Cuellar, an Oncor spokeswoman, said Saturday.
Representatives on behalf of Oncor and landowners testified before administrative law judges from the state office of administrative hearings last week. The judges will present their decision on a route to the Public Utilities Commission March 1, and the PUC will make a final decision April 5.
"We're happy to
build whatever the commission wants us to," Cuellar said. "We hope their decision is timely enough for Texans to start reaping the benefits of renewable energy."
Strong showing
Catherine J. Webking, an Austin attorney representing 130 interveners from the Save the Lampasas Inc., said she felt the hearings went well and was impressed by the amount of landowners from Bell and Burnet counties who attended.
"It was good in that it displayed the cohesiveness of Save the Lampasas and the unified community that they've become," she said. She could not comment on whether she thought the group had a good chance of success.
Oncor chose Route 281 as an alternative route, which includes an area that skirts the southernmost edge of Fort Hood. A group of 18 who live in the area opposes that route and has legal representation as well.
Residents working to prevent Oncor from building the towers on areas of land they inhabit or own are conflicted – getting what they want might mean a friend will have the towers built on his or her property. Some hesitated to go on the record about their preferences.
"We're cautiously optimistic, but that doesn't mean we don't feel sympathetic toward others," Eyberg said.
Contact Jade Ortego at
jortego@kdhnews.com or (254) 501-7553. Follow her on Twitter at KDHcourts.
Oncor transmission line battle timeline
Early June 2008: Letters about the project, informing residents that live or own property within 500 feet of any proposed route, were received.
June 20: Concerned residents held first meeting at Oakalla Volunteer Fire Department to inform one another of the scope of the project. Save the Lampasas, Inc., met for the first time.
July 6: Oncor held a public hearing at Central Texas Food and Supply in Killeen to inform residents and answer questions about the Newton-Killeen project.
Aug. 4: Residents met again, led by County Commissioner of Precinct 4 John Fisher, to discuss the creation of an alternate route that would skirt Fort Hood. This route became route 281.
Oct. 7: Oncor announced route 308, which would travel near the Lampasas River, as its preferred route, to the dismay of landowners there.
Nov. 18: Attorneys representing landowners in the area attended a pre-hearing conference before the PUC and administrative law judges in Austin.
December to early January 2010: Oncor and resident's attorneys filed written testimony and rebuttal testimony.
Jan. 18-20: Oncor employees and consultants and resident's attorneys testified before two administrative law judges from the State Office of Administrative Hearings.
Feb. 3 and 8: Parties will file briefs and reply briefs.
March 1: Judges will present their proposal for decision on a route to the PUC.
April 5: PUC will announce their final order.