Wind Energy Transmission Texas (WETT) and LCRA Transmission Services Corporation (LCRA TSC) are jointly proposing to build and operate a new 345-kilovolt transmission line to improve reliability and accommodate future demand and generating capacity growth in West Texas. The new transmission line is planned for portions of Upton, Reagan and Glasscock counties. It will connect LCRA TSC’s existing North McCamey Substation in Upton County with WETT’s existing Bearkat Substation in Glasscock County, which are about 60 miles apart.
The project requires WETT and LCRA TSC to amend their certificates of convenience and necessity (CCNs) with the Public Utility Commission of Texas. As part of the process, WETT and LCRA TSC will seek input from state and local elected officials and various agencies to identify routing constraints to help determine potential locations for new transmission facilities and assess the project’s potential impacts. WETT and LCRA TSC will hold open houses for the public to learn more about the project and provide their feedback.
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas’ (ERCOT) Board of Directors recently designated the project critical to reliability of the ERCOT system. Projects designated as “critical” are considered by the Public Utility Commission of Texas on an expedited basis. LCRA TSC and WETT plan to file their joint CCN application by June 2023
Jan. 17-19 | Public Open Houses
Representatives from LCRA TSC, WETT and POWER Engineers, the routing consulting firm, will be available to answer questions and discuss specific aspects of the project.
WETT and LCRA TSC hosted open houses Jan. 17-19 to share information with the public and answer questions about the project. Review the information from the open houses below, fill out this questionnaire and submit your feedback on this project to WETT by Jan. 31, 2023.
Preliminary alternative route segments map now available
LCRA TSC and WETT’s consultant, POWER Engineers, delineated the project study area and has begun data collection and constraint mapping. Click to view the alternative route segments map.
Map study area
August | ERCOT Board designates project as Tier 1 critical status
September-December | LCRA TSC/WETT identify preliminary alternate route segments
January | Public open houses
June 22, 2023 | Application filed with the Public Utility Commission of Texas
LCRA TSC and WETT filed an application with the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) on June 22 to amend their Certificates of Convenience and Necessity for the North McCamey to Bearkat 345-kV Transmission Line Project. The application includes data on 50 alternative routes that range from approximately 61 to 84 miles. Numerous other routes could be created by combining the filed segments into additional routes. The route order is numerical and does not signify any preference on LCRA TSC or WETT’s part as to which route is ultimately approved.
In the application, LCRA TSC and WETT identify Route 29 (consisting of segments 1-3-7-8-12-13-15-16B-22-30-45-58-59-60-62-84-85-90-99-104-106-112-134-138-140-147-148-151-154-161-163-164-170-172-175-177) as the filed route that LCRA TSC and WETT believe best addresses the PUC’s routing criteria. LCRA TSC and WETT based this on factors such as Route 29’s relatively low estimated cost and short length, and other criteria relating to the overall manner in which Route 29 minimizes impacts to the community by paralleling existing transmission line rights of way for a significant portion of its length, minimizing the number of habitable structures within proximity to the project, and minimizing impacts to natural and cultural resources.
All routes and route segments included in the application —available at the link above — are available for selection and approval by the PUC. The deadline for intervention in PUC docket No. 55120 is August 7, 2023. If approved by the PUC, the transmission line is scheduled to be energized by June 2026.
Attachments to the CCN application:
Attachment 1: Environmental Assessment (EA) and Alternative Route Analysis [PDF]
