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The Howard-Solstice 765Kv transmission line project has mapped potential routes for over 300 miles of large transmission lines requiring large easements which cross through much of Real, Edwards, and Uvalde county, along with several other counties in South and West Texas.
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This is one of three major transmission line projects slated to deliver large amounts of power to the Permian Basin area, to meet growing demands of oil and gas development and data centers.
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These are among the first transmission towers of this size and capacity ever to be installed in Texas, comparable to the largest KV transmission lines in the U.S.
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Landowners with property within 500 feet of one of the proposed route segments should have received an information packet, but all residents of our area will be affected by the installation of these power lines.
What we are facing
Our Battle
This transmission project is a result of a law passed in 2023 which outlined the terms for the “Permian Basin Reliability Plan” to improve power capacity to that area of the state. There is no indicated benefit to our residents by this transmission line, and the power coming over the lines will not be available to our local electrical substations. Our localized grid will not be improved by these lines. CPS and AEP will turn in their recommendations for where they feel the route should go, and then the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT), a board appointed by Governor Greg Abbott, will select and give the final approval of the transmission route, with construction to begin in mid to late 2028.
Local Opposition
We are a local coalition of residents mobilized to lead the effort in opposing Bandera, Medina, Real, Edwards, Uvalde and Val Verde counties as a potential route, and a larger regional coalition fighting the project in the larger western Hill Country area.
The reasons for opposition to this project include:
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Our economy’s dependence on tourism which includes seasonal tourists and hunters at all times of the year
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Our pristine river stream segments, among some of the best and last in Texas;
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Delicate contributing and recharge zones of the Edwards aquifer
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Local property values being negatively affected by these enormous lines carving up our canyons
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Our area being a part of the crucial migratory routes for birds and butterflies traversing North and South America
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Our dark skies, which could be marred by lighting on these towers, depending on aerial assets and localized airport runways along the route
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Our historic sites and rich history
Into the Details
We are the ranchers, homeowners, hunters, small business owners, and lifelong residents of these
counties — where land is not just property, but a part of our heritage, our freedom, and the
backbone of our rural way of life.
American Electric Power (AEP) and CPS Energy have recently proposed the construction of a high-
voltage transmission line that could cut through large portions of our counties.
This project threatens to disrupt private property, degrade wildlife habitats, reduce land values, impact tourism, and compromise the rural character we’ve worked hard to protect for generations.
In many areas, residents only recently became aware of the project — not through official
notifications, but by word of mouth and social media posts. This failure in communication reflects a
lack of respect for the communities that stand to be most affected.
The lack of transparency and meaningful outreach by AEP/CPS suggests either gross oversight or a
willful disregard for the rights of rural Texans. Many landowners remain uninformed about the full
extent of the project and its long-term consequences for their property, safety, and way of life.
We are fully aware of what this kind of infrastructure brings:
Forced easements and eminent domain, stripping families of land they’ve owned for generations.
Wildlife displacement caused by construction and maintenance corridors.
Loss of property value due to unsightly transmission towers and lingering safety concerns.
Damage to local tourism, as industrial infrastructure disrupts scenic landscapes, waterways, and
recreational land.
Fragmentation of large tracts of land, making it harder for ranchers, hunters, and landowners to
manage or sell their properties.
Permanent alteration of rural landscapes, imposed without the knowledge or consent of those
most affected.
Strategy:
We, as residents and visitors, call on AEP/CPS to:
Pause the process to consider adding links along existing major highway corridors that will allow for the removal of proposed links that cut through the River Basins.
Avoid private ranchland and respect the rights of rural landowners.
Prioritize alternative routes that follow existing infrastructure or public right-of-way corridors.
We’re not against progress — but true progress must honor the people, the land, and the legacy of rural Texas.
