Texas needs plenty more transmission—fast. How much say do landowners get? (E&E News)
The state is working through a $33B transmission expansion (3,400+ miles of new high-voltage lines). The main driver? Permian oil and gas electrification, where power demand has outrun the grid. Plus, data centers are compounding the pressure.
Yes, but: Landowners say the approval process is too speedy. A 2023 law halved the PUC’s review window, leaving ranchers and homeowners with less time to object to proposed routes. Some lawmakers who backed the faster process are now asking regulators to hold their horses.
The broader tension: Texas wants reliability, economic growth, and enough wires for large loads. But residential and small-business customers are expected to carry much of the cost, while rural landowners shoulder the siting fight.