A country music star, a state representative, and a private landowner are all sounding the alarm on the 765-kilovolt transmission line models from the Electric Reliability Council of Texas.
The models’ load demands differ by over 42,000 megawatts, a difference State Rep. Brad Buckley (R–Salado) calls “so drastic that it is difficult to imagine that both models are using anywhere near the same load forecast.”
In a letter sent Tuesday to ERCOT Chief Operating Officer Woody Rickerson, Buckley detailed the questions he had regarding the models, which essentially amounted to why they were so different from one another and whether or not the lines were justified under the more recent model.
“If ERCOT developed the original need for the three Permian import lines from a model with an outdated representation of expected future demand and generation, then the Legislature and my constituents need to understand how the current [Regional Transmission Plans] justify the import lines, given their dramatically different demand and generation assumptions from the [Permian Basin Reliability Plan],” wrote Buckley.
“Despite my best efforts over the past several months, I still do not have a clear understanding of the demand and generation assumptions in ERCOT’s models,” added Buckley.
Buckley’s letter was also sent to ERCOT CEO Pablo Vegas, as well as the Public Utility Commission of Texas.
In a post to X on Wednesday, Buckley lambasted the transmission line projects, calling them “the Green New Deal’s best friend,” and accusing ERCOT of financial malfeasance in its dealing with the lines.
Buckley called on U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins to oppose the projects and “call for a pause” until the issue could be addressed at the next legislative session.
Others are calling for an independent audit of the models.
Kevin Kennedy, a private landowner affected by one of the transmission line projects, filed a forensic audit request with PUCT to investigate the models.
“We’re not accusing ERCOT of ‘cooking the books,’ we’re saying the difference in the models [is] too significant, and they must be investigated,” Kennedy told PUCT commissioners.
On Wednesday, Kennedy appealed the State Office of Administrative Hearings’ (SOAH) denial of the audit request, noting that the PUCT has full authority to issue an independent audit of ERCOT’s models.
“The proper response is therefore not to leave the technical questions unanswered, but for [PUCT] to exercise its own authority and obligation–to direct an appropriate independent investigation–before a final determination is made on Issue No. 11,” wrote Kennedy.
Issue No. 11 is the question, as worded by SOAH: “Are the proposed transmission facilities necessary to meet state or federal reliability standards?”
“It would seem wholly unreasonable for the Commission to simply disregard Mr. Kennedy’s Appeal and these substantial technical concerns or to try to explain them away as previously settled,” according to Kennedy’s filing.
Country music artist Tanya Tucker, who was born in Seminole and whose partner owns a ranch in Burnet County, added her voice to the mix in a video posted to Instagram on Wednesday.
“Y’all know I’ve been asking questions about these massive 765-kV transmission lines. They want to run all over Texas,” said Tucker. “There are serious questions about the load and generation numbers ERCOT used in its model to justify these lines.”
Tucker criticized the idea of an in-house investigation done by ERCOT, saying that it was “like asking the fox to investigate what happened in the hen-house.”
“Governor Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Patrick, Texans need you. I’m asking everyone watching this to call their offices, tell them to independently investigate ERCOT’s modeling of the Permian Basin Reliability Plan, and do it before these projects go any further. This is our land, Texas, and it needs to stay that way. God bless Texas,” said Tucker.
Tucker has been an outspoken opponent of the 765-kV line projects and testified on the subject before the Texas Senate in July.
The 765-kV Strategic Transmission Expansion Plan (STEP) is a key part of the Permian Basin Reliability Plan (PBRP). It consists of the three STEP Permian transmission lines spanning more than 1,200 miles to move power from East Texas to the natural gas-rich Permian Basin.
PUCT has approved the southern and northern STEP Permian lines, while the central line remains under consideration.
The latest opposition comes shortly after Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick stated he had “lost total confidence and trust” in ERCOT board Chair Bill Flores. The comments came after Patrick criticized Flores on his “problem keeping facts straight” with regards to discussions on a controversial contract extension for Vegas.
Lawmakers are expected to address issues with the transmission project during the next legislative session scheduled to begin on January 12.
