Big new power lines could prevent blackouts in Texas. Dan Patrick wants to block them
Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and Senator Charles Schwertner are advocating for state regulators to deny permits for three ultra-high-voltage transmission lines across Texas. This comes after a 15-hour public hearing where landowners and other opponents voiced concerns over local impacts, the proliferation of data centers, and renewable energy. While regulators and grid managers emphasize the necessity of these lines for grid reliability, strong opposition highlights the challenges for major energy system additions.
Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and Senate Business and Commerce Committee Chair Charles Schwertner have urged regulators to reject permits for three 765 kilovolt transmission lines proposed to bolster Texas's power grid. They argue that while transmission improvements are needed, they should not compromise private property rights, suggesting legislative review next year.
Their statement followed a marathon public hearing where over 200 opponents, largely rural landowners, expressed fears about the project's local impacts, the expansion of data centers, and renewable energy sources. Jeannie Dullnig, whose ranch would be crossed by the Howard-Solstice line, cited concerns about the Nueces River watershed, while Emily Martin Howe questioned the need to move power from her area in Erath County to West or East Texas, arguing generation should be closer to consumption.
Despite opposition, state regulators and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) officials, including Public Utility Commission Chair Thomas Gleeson and ERCOT COO Woody Rickerson, assert that new transmission is critical to prevent future blackouts, especially in the Permian Basin, which faces high demand from the oil and gas industry. They explained that fewer, higher-voltage lines create a smaller overall footprint than multiple lower-voltage lines. The Public Utility Commission of Texas is expected to approve routing for the first phase, the Howard-Solstice line, by the end of August.