August 26, 2011
Texas

City won’t appeal power line decision

By Mark J. Armstrong, Assistant Managing Editor, dailytimes.com 25 August 2011

City officials say they won’t appeal a Travis County District Court’s decision clearing the way for the proposed 345-kilovolt power transmission line through Kerrville.

Mindy Wendele, director of business programs for the city, said the city has no plans to continue fighting the Texas Public Utility Commission’s Jan. 24 decision selecting the route along Interstate 10. Earlier this month, a judge in Austin rejected arguments by the city and Kerr County that the route violated the commission’s policy of “prudent avoidance” and was influenced by testimony offered after the close of the public comment period.

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The route through Kerrville was one of about 75 proposed for the power lines. It is expected to displace about 17 families in Kerr County and run along the I-10 right-of-way or parallel to the highway system.

Known as Competitive Renewable Energy Zones, the Texas Legislature in 1999 set forth a mandate to the LCRA to bring renewable energy from wind farms in West Texas to load centers throughout the state. Plans for transmission lines include routes through several area counties to connect the McCamey D Station, to be located in northern Schleicher County, to the existing Kendall Station, located in western Kendall County.

The $360 million power transmission line is expected to be built next year and energized in 2013.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/08/26/city-wont-appeal-power-line-decision/