Moving along with the CREZ

We are all waiting on something. Whether patiently or impatiently, people in the Panhandle of Texas are waiting for transmission lines to be built so that they can move forward with wind development in the area. First of all, I want to reiterate that things are moving along. Transmission Service Providers chosen by the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) are working diligently to get these lines under construction.

If you are a landowner in the area where these TSPs are going to be building new lines as a part of the CREZ process then it is important that you be involved with them as much as possible. I have had nothing but positive experiences with the companies who are going to be building in our immediate area. Representatives from Sharyland Utilities and Cross Texas Transmission have been speakers at our recent meetings and I have no doubt that their utmost concern is making decisions that will best serve landowners and local communities. So take the time to meet with them and have your voice heard.

Sharyland is hosting several open house type public meetings coming up soon. Public meetings will be held on September 21st, 22nd and 24th in Silverton, Muncy and Dickens, respectively. The meetings will all be come and go events where you can ask questions of Sharyland reps and see detailed project maps. You can stop by at any of the meetings between 5 and 8pm. Find out more about the meetings here.

You can also find a copy of the map which shows preliminary routes for the Sharyland's line that will be crossing Motley, Floyd, Briscoe and Dickens Counties here. If you are a landowner in these areas, these public meetings are a chance to get your voice heard on which line you would prefer. The best thing to do might be to work with your neighbors; if a group of you go to Sharyland with a concern you just might have more pull.

In case you are wondering how this entire process is going to pan out, basically what will happen is that Sharyland, taking the suggestions they receive at public meetings and through other interactions with community members, will create several line proposals that they will submit to the PUCT. Included in this proposal, more formally called a Certificate of Convenience and Necessity, will be an outline of a primary route (which Sharyland believes to be the best route) as well as several other alternative routes. The PUCT then has 6 months to choose the route they believe is best. Once the PUCT decides then Sharyland can begin construction. The entire CREZ system is scheduled to be complete by the end of 2013.

You can find another map Sharyland had available at recent public meetings for the line that crosses Potter, Randall, Carson, Armstrong and Deaf Smith Counties here.