North McCamey to Bearkat Transmission Project

August 24, 2023
Draft Intervenor Map

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’s 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 Aug. 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]
  • Appendix D (Figure 4-16) to the Environmental Assessment includes two topographic maps of the primary alternative routes [PDF]
  • Appendix E (Figure 5-1) to the Environmental Assessment includes two aerial maps of habitable structures and
    other land use features in the vicinity of the primary alternative routes [PDF]
  • Table 5-1 to the Environmental Assessment includes environmental data for the primary route evaluation
  • Table 5-2 to the Environmental Assessment includes environmental data for the primary segment evaluation
• Attachment 2: Station Schematics [PDF]
• Attachment 3: Cost Estimates [PDF]
• Attachment 4a: ERCOT RPG Submittal-Bearkat-North McCamey-Sand Lake 345 kV Transmission Line Addition Project (April 7, 2022) [PDF]
• Attachment 4b: ERCOT Independent Review of the Bearkat-North McCamey-Sand Lake 345-kV Transmission Line Addition Project (July 2022) [PDF]
• Attachment 4c: August 2022 ERCOT Board of Director Meeting Minutes [PDF]
• Attachment 5: Location of Directly Affected Parcels and Habitable Structures (see updated routing maps section below) [PDF]
• Attachment 6: Copy of Landowner Notice [PDF]
• Attachment 7: List of Landowners Noticed [PDF]
• Attachment 8: Copy of Utility and Public Officials Notice [PDF]
• Attachment 9: List of Utilities and Pipeline Operators Noticed [PDF]
• Attachment 10: List of Municipal, County, State, and Federal Authorities Noticed [PDF]
• Attachment 11: Newspaper Application Notice [PDF]
• Attachment 12: TPWD Letter [PDF]

Updated routing maps
The alternative route segments and directly affected properties can be viewed via the interactive mapping tool. Zoom in and out on aerial imagery that depicts primary alternate transmission line route segments, potential substation sites and property line information obtained from the county appraisal district. Note: High-speed internet is recommended. These maps are also called “Attachment 5” in the CCN application.

Jan. 20, 2023
Open house materials
LCRA TSC and WETT 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.

• Exhibits [PDF]
• Maps: The following maps depict routing constraints and preliminary alternate route segments.
  • Preliminary Alternative Route Segments and Land Use Constraints maps
    • Map index [PDF]
    • Map 1 [PDF]
    • Map 2 [PDF]
    • Map 3 [PDF]
    • Map 4 [PDF]
    • Map 5 [PDF]
    • Map 6 [PDF]
  • Open house notification maps (Use this overview map to determine which of the following three maps are relevant to your property.)
    • Map 1 [PDF]
    • Map 2 [PDF]
    • Map 3 [PDF]
• Landowner notification letter [PDF]
• Newspaper ad [PDF]

Public open houses Jan. 17-19
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.

Jan. 17, 5-8 p.m.
Upton County 4H Community Center
18001 W. Hwy. 67, McCamey, TX 79752

Jan. 18, 5-8 p.m.
Reagan County Activity Center
1205 N. Montana Ave., Big Lake, TX 76932

Jan. 19, 5-8 p.m.
St. Lawrence Parish Hall
2400 FM 2401, Garden City, TX 79739

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 [PDF]. (Maps with more detail will be on view at the open houses.)

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.