> While we don't really line flood plains we often get put in/near them. > > I doubt I can get you a better picture now, but they will have really good maps on big boards at the public meetings. Typically the maps are outsourced from companies that specialize in landman work and public meetings. The first time the utilities folks (especially the planning department) will see them is the day of or the day before the public meeting. They may put these maps on the PUCT or ONCOR and LCRA after the meeting. They might have ownership of parcels on them. > > I have only had to do a couple of public meetings, but they all work the same way. They will have a big room with tables and easels in a circle; you sign in when you get there and they will hand you a copy of the 4-page questionnaire if you don't bring your own (partially fill it out to make them concerned). Usually, the first guy is the planning schmuck (we are known as the red-headed stepchild of the utility business). They will have one or two easels with information showing the 'need' for the project (nobody cares, especially since three 765kV lines are PUCT blessed after HB5066 told the utilities to build big to serve the next 20 years of oil/gas development in West Texas). ERCOT studied 765 and 345 kV options and 765 kV won. IMO a good choice under current circumstances. > > Then they will have a transmission construction person with drawing of the tower options showing dimensions. I don't think there are many options for 765 kV. Good thing about 765 kV is it is not usually freakishly tall like some 345 kV because it has a wider ROW and the 3 phases are horizontal. > > Then they will have maps where you can see the exact routes and find your land. Hopefully you are noticed because the route is near your land and not on your land. Most people skip all the other folks in the room and spend their time talking with the people at the maps. > > Next they will have a table with a couple of folks that will take your questionnaire and can take down your info if you want further contact/ plan to file comments with the PUCT and explain the next steps of the process. Overall this is not usually a fast process. > > Lastly they will have a table or two with tea, punch and cookies (bring tupperware and become a legend, or just walk out with a box whilst cussing) > > After all the public meetings there is time to file comments to the PUCT. After that they will schedule hearings at the PUCT administrative law judge. Not sure how long that takes and there can be appeals after the rulings (I think). Once the PUCT has approved a route the utilities still have to negotiate with landowners on the exact placement of the poles, this takes awhile to satisfy all the landowners. > > The scariest MF to the utilities are the ones who walk into these public meetings with their lawyers or are a lawyer. You will get contacted by lawyers wanting to represent you if you are on a possible route. > > I highly recommend going to the public meeting (or two if you are bored) and asking questions. It is good (assuming you don't want them on your land) to show up and appear unhappy with the idea. They take notes and discuss landowners after the meetings. They are accustomed to the negative feedback in these. Feel free to throw in the classic lines about EMF, studies on the effects on cattle, increased cancer rates or anything else you can come up with. I can also give you a list of questions that will make the planning person uncomfortable upon request. > > [redacted ...] back east. This is the first set of 765 kV lines in Texas and it is the best option if Texas wants to reliably serve all the oil/gas loads a massive MW of data centers that are being proposed. Especially when you have huge MW of solar and wind units all over the state. ---- [[765kV Transmission Line to Cross Burnet County Precinct 2|Home]] --->***[[Raw feed items to be rearranged|NEW PHOTOS]]*** <--- from the Salado meeting