LETTER TO PUC FROM Texas State Representative Wes Virdell just submitted a really powerful and moving letter opposing the transmission lines to the PUC (his second to be added to the docket). I am very impressed by his stance, and I hope that his bold message will encourage other leaders to be strong against this, as well. 

See his Facebook Page Post https://www.facebook.com/wesvirdellfortexas 

I sent a letter to the Public Utility Commission regarding its planned eminent domain of hill country properties for massive power lines.

I will post the language here and a link in the comments to the official letter. Citizens need to make their voices heard or we will all lose...except for the private corporations profiting off of this... They will profit handsomely. 

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To the Commissioners of the Public Utility Commission,

I am writing to express my great disappointment and firm opposition to the plan to run the largest power lines in Texas through the Hill Country using eminent domain. Let me be clear: this is not a necessary evil; it is a choice to use the power of the government to sidestep the free market and steal land from Texas citizens.

The only reason to choose eminent domain is because the state knows it cannot win in a fair negotiation. It knows it would have to pay a reasonable price for easements, compensate for the devalued property, and face the unified objection of Hill Country residents. Eminent domain is an egregious act being weaponized by private companies who use the government as a tool for theft.

Every person with a moral compass should be fighting against this. I can only assume that anyone assisting in this process would loudly object if it were their own land on the line. At some point, we need leaders who will quit being "yes men" and start saying, "Not on my watch!"

We saw this same failure of courage during the COVID-19 pandemic, when so many bowed to corrupt mandates that violated human rights and destroyed businesses. I hope we have learned from that mistake. I truly hope people will stand up now instead of taking a knee. We cannot idly sit by while any government tramples on the rights of its citizens.

Life, Liberty, and Property. These are the building blocks of our country. To advocate for the theft of property is to stand against the very moral fiber upon which this nation was built. The PUCT must take a step back and reevaluate whether it wants to be an agent of progress or an agent of theft against its own citizens.

I have seen the free market work. I watched Florida Power & Light use it to install powerlines in my home county, and it worked great. The free market is a proven solution; it just costs more in the short term than stealing land. In the long term, the theft of property costs our entire country, as it dooms us to failure and destroys all confidence in a government meant to protect our rights.

I implore you to look at existing corridors and utilize the free market. Take this letter and the will of the people seriously before you trample on the rights of your fellow Texans. If you want this country to be here for our grandchildren, it is imperative that you protect every citizen’s rights to life, liberty, and property.

Respectfully,

Wes Virdell

State Representative, HD53

** CLICK HERE **  to be redirected to an INFORMATIVE Web Site created by a Joppa neighbor on this important development

View the June 24th  Burnet Count Commissioners Meeting

https://www.youtube.com/live/bbFrtwyW3_Q?si=zZ7I1zWoaDrPRytD

Bell County East to Big Hill 765-kV Transmission Project

Estimated Project Timeline

• Application Filing – Anticipated in December 2025.
• PUC Decision – Anticipated in June 2026.
• Oncor Representatives can be contacted regarding the Bell County East – Big Hill 765 kV Transmission Line Project at 214.486.5216 or transmissionprojects@oncor.com
• LCRA TSC Representatives can be contacted at 512.578.1445 or BCBH@LCRA.org. Additional project details can also be found at www.lcra.org/BCBH.

This is a long, laborious task, but if many, many, many of us voice our concerns, we can have an impact.

Links to our Contacts - PLEASE WRITE THEM ASAP  WITH YOUR CONCERNS.

Public Utility Commission of Texas      William B. Travis Building   |   
1701 N. Congress Ave, Suite 7-110, Austin, TX 78701

512-936-7000   Contact Us 

U.S. House,   District 31    John Carter (R)    (202) 225-3864

https://carter.house.gov/contact/
 

Texas Senate,   District 24    Pete Flores (R)     (512) 463-0124
Texas State Senator Pete Flores- District 24       512-463-0124

The Honorable Pete Flores     Contact https://senate.texas.gov/member.php?d=24 

PO Box 12068, Capitol Station, Austin, TX 78711    Phone: 512-463-0124

Texas House,   District 19    Ellen Troxclair (R)    (512) 463-0490
Texas State Representative Ellen Troxclair-District 19

Contact   https://house.texas.gov/members/member-page/?district=19  

PO Box 2910, Austin, TX 78768         Phone: 512-463-0190

Texas State Representative, Terry Wilson, Dist. 20  (formerly our state rep. and owns property in Burnet County). PO Box 2910, Austin, TX 78768; 512-463-0309

U.S.   Senator  John Cornyn (R)    (202) 224-2934
https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/contact-john-cornyn/

U.S. Senator    Ted Cruz (R)    (202) 224-5922   

https://www.cruz.senate.gov/contact  

 Central Texas office   300 E. 8th, Suite 961      central_texas@cruz.senate.gov
Austin, TX 78701   central _texas@cruz. senate.gov  (remove the spaces
Phone number  (512) 916-5834     Email Us
 

Governor of Texas     Greg Abbott (R)     (512) 463-2000

Governer Abbott      https://gov.texas.gov/contact   

https://gov.texas.gov/apps/contact-form/contactus?contact=8589425
 

Lt. Governor    Dan Patrick (R)    (512) 463-0001

The Texas Lieutenant Governor Message Line: (512) 463-5342

The Texas Lieutenant Governor Office Line: (512) 463-0001.
 

Texas Attorny General    Ken Paxton 

https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/contact-us

Speaker of the Texas House​​​​​  Dustin Burrows (R)     (512) 463-1000

https://house.texas.gov/members/3055

State Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller  

https://texasagriculture.gov/Home/Contact-Us

Burnet County Commissioners    contact info for each is listed down below

     https://www.burnetcountytexas.org/page/commcourt.home

Burnet County Judge Bryan Wilson 

 countyjudge@burnetcountytexas.org 

Precinct 1     Jim Luther, Jr.     commissionerpct1@burnetcountytexas.org

m. 512-715-4112;  512-715-5233   

Precinct 2     Damon Beierle     dbeierle@burnetcountytexas.org

m. 512-715-2611;  o. 512-585-8215 

      Damon:  https://www.burnetcountytexas.org/page/comm.pct2

      Damon: 

Precinct 3     Billy Wall    commissionerpct3@burnetcountytexas.org

m. 512-715-5236;  830-265-0483

Precinct 4     Joe Don Dockery   jdockery@burnetcountytexas.org

m. 512-715-5235;  512-715-2911

PLEASE DO NOT POST THIS ON SOCIAL MEDIA without first speaking with Tom Green

Just some info to share to see if it might help re-invigorate an “after the flooding” interest in the 765.

Will welcome your thoughts, and also your sharing where you think appropriate.

Please, those who are interested in joining, connect with me in some way. Please make doing so a priority.  

Like many of you, the floods have detoured me away from the 765 (and other) topics for a good while. And while it will be a long flood recovery  process, there are other things, important as well, that will need attention. One of those is the 765. I hope to be getting back into those issues soon🤞

Stuff below is an FYI for each of us to consider. I welcome additional info, suggestions, corrections/clarifications where they may be  needed, and help of any sort. Apologies for the length, but it’s a pretty quick read.

A. Some stuff you may already know.

1. Policy. The PUCT policy (rules?) is for new transmission lines to follow existing ones to the extent doable. Obviously, it appears such was ignored by LCRA/Oncor. Michael Smith has done an excellent job of illustrating this basic fault.

2. Judges. The PUCT “judges” which hear the cases once they have been filed are “reported to be” (by one in-the-loop source) more receptive to citizen input than in times prior. Not sure how to calibrate that report at this point.

3. Filing schedule. The case in which we are interested is scheduled to be filed in December, at which point the legal process begins. 

4. Pre-registration. To participate in that process, you must have registered prior. I haven’t seen a “deadline,” but I am told the sooner the better.

5. Community and beyond. It seems to me this is not an individual property owner issue, but indeed a community and beyond issue. It needs help of various kinds from various sources.

B. Some stuff you may not know.

1. Standing. If you got a notice, you have standing.

2. Early birds. Better chance for a good outcome if you lobby early, BEFORE the official filing scheduled for December. “Work the PUCT early.” 

3. What is early? I am told September is optimal to start, which should give time to start preparing.

4. Lawyers. Lawyers in this specialty are very limited in number. Waiting may mean no option… except representing ourselves. Thoughts welcomed.

5. Experts. Ditto for the experts (e.g., environmental, property values, etc.)

6. Aesthetics. Even if the line does not cross or border our land (which is my case), there will be a significant aesthetic impact.This impact is not only day, but also nights… lots of blinking red lights.

7. Duty to protect the public. As a professional engineer, by law I am entrusted in my practice to protect health, safety, property, and welfare of the public. This obligation supersedes even the “preferences” of a client. I take this duty seriously.

8. Environmental risks. One of my biggest personal 765 concerns is protecting against the so very real environmental risks that affect the above things that we as professional engineers are obligated to protect.

9. PE standing? Even if I had not received a notice, those professional obligations I am told could qualify my standing.

10. EMF harms. Many studies have shown these ELF EMFs injure, disorient, and eventually destroy bee colonies. That result is not just limited to the right of way (i.e., the bees fly into the ROW from our properties).

11. Bees destruction. Bee populations are under assault in these United States. Studies have shown a drop in population by 62%. Enough said. (Yes, there are other causes in addition to EMF.)

12. Food supply. If pollinators become scarce, so will natural foods, pretty much of any kind. It is, after all, a natural system of co-dependency. Harming our pollinators affects me and my family, even if I am way distant from the power line itself.

13. Livestock. Turns out bees are classified in TX as livestock. Property.

14. Beyond bees. And yes, there are other species harmed, both plants and animals.

15. Return to 765. When I get back to 765 activities more heavily, I intend to pursue possibilities via federal, EPA, Sierra Club, whatever… to see what avenues may open up for their help. Help would be welcomed.

16. Other solutions. Technology solutions which are more efficient and safer than any current power production means (coal, natural gas, nuclear, wind, solar) will likely be in place by the time the xmission lines are finished, supplanting the need for them entirely. 

17. Dicey. This technology item is a little dicey for me since I am under an NDA, but I can share the following, which is pseudo public information.

18. Overseas. The technology was created overseas. Its country of origin has just completed its very exhaustive analysis and testing to assure safety is not an issue.

19. Pilot plants. The first pilot plant is scheduled to come on line in the country of origin in 2026. The second pilot plant is scheduled to come on line in our home state in 2027. The third pilot plant is scheduled to come on line somewhere on Europe in 2028.

20. Beyond the pilots. Scaling and mass production are scheduled to start in 2030 (the same year the 765 

is to come on line). Possibly in our state.

21. Legal fees. I am told by one attorney to expect legal fees in the 20-30k range for whatever size group was represented. Another attorney gave info that would be 2-3X that sum. Neither includes experts’ fees.

22. How to pay. Before the flood, I had toyed with the idea of covering most of the legal and expert fees myself. That is no longer an option, so we would need to join the process together.

Please, those who are interested in joining, connect with me in some way. Please make doing so a priority.  

And if you are not interested or have neither the time nor money to help, I totally understand. Letting me know that would be helpful just the same.

And either way, please share my above FYIs with others in our community.

Cell: 512-940-0484

Email: greenacres7935@aol.com

Blessings to all,

Tom Green