Press Release - Transmission Siting

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Caprock Plains Wind Energy Association
Kelly Ayers, Executive Assistant
(806) 983-2793
Kelly.j.ayers@gmail.com

Local Landowners Involved With Transmission Siting Process

FLOYDADA, Texas, September 24, 2009 – Here in the Texas Panhandle landowners are excited about the approaching transmission build-out because it ultimately means more wind farms will come to the area, but what’s even more exciting is that Transmission Service Providers (TSP) building lines in the area are making sure that landowners are involved in the siting process.

Sharyland Utilities, a TSP chosen by the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) to build four collection stations and five transmission line segments which will cover 250-300 miles in the Texas Panhandle and South Plains, recently held an open house at the Floyd County Friends Unity Center in Muncy, Texas. During the open house Sharyland representatives were available to answer questions, address concerns and take suggestions on potential routes for the transmission lines that are meant to bump up transmission capacity in order to harness the wind energy potential in the Texas Panhandle.

Bill Quattlebaum a landowner in Floyd County and board member for Caprock Plains Wind Energy Association (CPWEA), a non-profit landowner association looking to promote wind development in the area, attended the public meeting and was pleased with the interactions he had with Sharyland representatives.

“It seems to me, in all sincerity, that they are very conscientious and landowner friendly,” Quattlebaum noted. “They ask you two or three times if they can help you with anything and they are very knowledgeable. They act like their time is your time and that’s very admirable of them.”

The purpose of these public meetings is for Sharyland to be able to determine what would be the best route for a specific line segment. They will look at using or paralleling existing right-of-ways, while also taking landowner preferences into consideration. Sharyland plans to submit their preferred route as well as several alternative routes to the PUCT for review in the second quarter of 2010. The PUCT is expected to have an approved route by the third or fourth quarter of 2010 and if all goes as planned Sharyland will begin construction of their lines in the first or second quarter of 2011.

The 345kV transmission lines that are going to be built will require a right-of-way that is 175 feet wide. For the most part, the lines will be on steel lattice structures that will stand around 125 feet tall. Sharyland will purchase right-of-way easements from landowners. Fair market value for the easements will be determined by conducting a market study or appraisal of the land. While Sharyland Utilities has the power of eminent domain they are making all efforts possible in order to avoid an eminent domain situation.

Some concerns landowners may have is that having a transmission line on their land will prevent them from having wind turbines. A transmission line may affect the placement of turbines, as general practice calls for a buffer zone between transmission lines and turbines, but Sharyland is committed to working with landowners and wind developers to ensure a proper balance of land use.

Bill Quattlebaum seems excited about the potential that these transmission lines will bring to the area and he also seemed convinced that Sharyland is honestly working to build their lines along a path of least resistance, choosing routes which have the least landowner opposition.

“It’s a given that the transmission lines are coming, and the windmills will follow” Quattlebaum said. “Our vision at CPWEA, ‘windmills as far as the eye can see,’ is going to become a reality.”

You can find more information about the transmission line build-out and answers to frequently asked questions on Sharyland’s Web site (www.sharylandutilities.com).

CPWEA is a non-profit landowner association working to connect landowners with developers in the wind industry. CPWEA’s goal is to recruit wind development to the region and help revitalize rural communities. Go to www.caprockplainswind.com to find out more about the association.

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