Editorial: Wind hearings open to public
A private utility firm is going to commence the first of two public hearings tonight on a proposal to string wind-energy lines across the Panhandle.
It’s a decent guess that the company is going to get a snootful from residents who don’t want the lines to cross Palo Duro Canyon.
The first meeting will occur in Wildorado, at the community’s elementary school gym, beginning tonight at 5 p.m.
The next hearing will occur Thursday night at the Carson County War Memorial Building in Panhandle, also beginning at 5.
Sharyland Utilities is considering several options to string lines across the Panhandle. One of them is a southeast route that runs from the Hereford area toward White Deer, which would take it across the canyon near Texas 207. It’s also considering routes that go from Hereford, across Interstate 40, near Wildorado and then to a substation near White Deer.
There’s something quite unappealing about the idea of stringing power lines across Palo Duro Canyon. Residents who value the canyon’s natural beauty should make their views known to a company that is looking at other options – but which must give way to whatever route is approved by the Public Utility Commission of Texas.
To its credit, Sharyland has been good about soliciting public opinion on this ambitious plan.
It is offering detailed explanations and says it wants to hear from the public.
So, here is the public’s chance to make its case on an ambitious plan to harvest the High Plains’ most abundant renewable resource.
It now is up to the public to respond.
Amarillo Globe-News
17 November 2009
Tags: Wind power, Wind energy
Some possibly related stories:
- 500-plus sign canyon petition; Residents opposed to power lines
- Public can sound off on energy-line options
- Palo Duro Canyon deserves protection from power lines
- $1.2B wind plan set; Projects aim to build 310 turbines by 2011
- Landowners meet with utility over power lines
- Wind firms describe plans; Wiring could begin in 2010
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