Val Verde County votes unanimously to intervene in Howard Solstice transmission-line case, allocates $25,000

The Val Verde County Commissioners Court voted unanimously to intervene in the administrative proceeding over the Howard Solstice transmission line and set aside an initial $25,000 to support the county's participation, County Judge Louis G. Owens said. Commissioners made the decision after more than two hours of public comment and presentations that highlighted environmental, cultural and economic concerns tied to the utility's preferred Route 4.

Tom Keller, who delivered slides on behalf of affected property owners and presented a petition, urged the court to act quickly: “The preferred route loves Val Verde County more than any other county in Texas,” he said, noting the route would run roughly 100 miles in Val Verde County and require a cleared corridor about 200 feet wide with lattice towers taller than 160 feet.

Speakers at the public comment period described a range of potential harms. Bob Tierney, a landowner and agricultural consultant, warned that the county's karst geology makes sites for deep tower footings risky for groundwater and sinkholes and urged the…