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Environmental and Land Use Criteria for Evaluation
Numerous factors are considered during the development of a transmission line project. Explore those considerations below.
Land Use
- Length of alternative route
- Number of habitable structures1 within 300 feet of Right-of-Way (ROW) centerline
- Number of parcels crossed by alternative route
- Length of ROW using existing transmission line ROW
- Length of ROW parallel to existing transmission line ROW
- Length of ROW parallel to other compatible existing ROW (highways, public roadways, railways, etc. — excluding pipelines)
- Length of ROW parallel to apparent property lines
- Percentage of ROW parallel to existing compatible corridors and apparent property boundaries (excluding pipelines)
- Length of ROW through parks/recreational areas
- Number of parks/recreational areas crossed by ROW centerline
- Number of additional parks/recreational areas within 1,000 feet of ROW centerline
- Length of ROW through cropland
- Length of ROW through pasture/rangeland
- Length of ROW through land irrigated by traveling systems (rolling or pivot type)
- Number of transmission pipeline crossings
- Number of transmission line crossings
- Number of U.S. and State Highway crossings
- Number of Farm-to-Market road crossings
- Number of cemeteries within 1,000 feet of the ROW centerline
- Number of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) registered airports with at least one runway more than 3,200 feet in length located within 20,000 feet of the ROW centerline
- Number of FAA registered airports having no runway more than 3,200 feet in length located within 10,000 feet of the ROW centerline
- Number of private airstrips within 10,000 feet of the ROW centerline
- Number of heliports within 5,000 feet of the ROW centerline
- Number of commercial AM radio transmitters within 10,000 feet of the ROW centerline
- Number of FM radio transmitters, microwave towers, and other electronic installations within 2,000 feet of the ROW centerline
- Number of recorded water wells within 200 feet of the ROW centerline
- Number of recorded oil and gas wells within 200 feet of the ROW centerline
Aesthetics
- Estimated length of ROW within the foreground visual zone2 of U.S. and State Highways
- Estimated length of ROW within the foreground visual zone2 of Farm-to-Market roads
- Estimated length of ROW within the foreground visual zone2 of parks/recreational areas
Ecology
- Length of ROW through upland woodlands
- Length of ROW through bottomland/riparian woodlands
- Length of ROW across mapped National Wetland Inventory wetlands
- Length of ROW across known habitat of federally listed endangered or threatened species
- Length of ROW across open water (lakes, ponds)
- Number of stream crossings
- Length of ROW parallel (within 100 feet) to streams
- Length of ROW across 100-year floodplains
Cultural Resources
- Number of archeological or historical sites crossed by ROW
- Number of additional archeological or historical sites within 1,000 feet of ROW centerline
- Number of National Register of Historic Places listed properties crossed by ROW
- Number of additional National Register of Historic Places listed properties within 1,000 feet of ROW centerline
- Length of ROW across areas of high archeological site potential
1. Single-family and multi-family dwellings and related structures, mobile homes, apartment buildings, commercial structures, industrial structures, business structures, churches, hospitals, schools, or other structures normally inhabited by humans or intended to be inhabited by humans on a regular basis.
2. One-half mile, unobstructed.
Double Circuit 138 KV Transmission Line Structures
Brazos Electric plans to utilize 138 kV double circuit single-pole structures, along with a new approximate six-acre substation sited northwest of the town of Copperas Cove.
Several structure types are being proposed for this project, which are shown below. In addition, images of similar substations have been included for reference.
Double Circuit Steel Tangent
138 KV Direct Embed Tubular Steel
Single Pole Steel Angle
138 KV Self-Supporting Tubular Steel
Single Pole Steel Deadend
138 KV Self-Supporting Tubular Steel
Click images to enlarge.
Multiple substation locations have been studied but only one will be built as a result of this process. The images below show substations similar to what is being proposed.
Proposed Project Schedule and Timeline
Project activities will occur between March 2024 and October 2027.
Click image to enlarge.
Construction Timing/Methods
Brazos Electric plans to file the CCN application with the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) in March 2025. The PUCT has six months to make a decision on the project; however, the PUCT can issue an order prior to that time. Brazos Electric will then engage affected landowners in discussions regarding easements and land acquisition. The Company will begin construction upon final approval by the PUCT. Brazos Electric anticipates that the project will be completed by October 2027.
Surveying of the proposed transmission line ROW is required to locate the centerline, the structure locations, obstacles above and below ground, and the edges of both new and existing ROW. Prior to the surveying of properties, each directly affected landowner will be notified by an agent of Brazos Electric as part of the initial phase of land acquisition and/or easement acquisition. No construction activities will begin on any property that Brazos Electric has not acquired in the form of an exclusive easement or fee title purchase contract.
Tree and shrub clearing may be needed in areas where new ROW is acquired. If a SWPPP is required, it will be implemented along the approved route prior to the start of clearing. Mechanized cutters and hand tools will be used to remove impeding vegetation to ground level.
Specialized wide-track vehicles and line trucks with trailers will be used to transport construction materials along the ROW to the structure locations.
Galvanized steel poles will be delivered to the site location shortly before the poles are ready to be set. A large crane would then set the pole directly into an excavated hole. Each tangent pole will be backfilled with concrete and all angle and deadend poles will be designed on piers.
If needed for the dead-end and angled structures, the concrete foundations will be installed several weeks before the steel poles are erected to allow the foundations to cure and reach their maximum strength. The steel poles will be delivered and set next to the proposed structure location shortly before structure erection. The structures will be assembled on-site, and a crane will be used to set the sections into place onto the previously installed foundations.
Once the structures have been erected, the stringing and clipping-in of conductors and static wires will begin. Outages on the rerouted transmission line are a possibility during the conductor and static wire installation. However, additional outages on other lines that will be crossed during the install are not anticipated. Each road crossing will have temporary guard poles installed for public protection while stringing in the new conductors.
Cleanup operations will be performed as construction activities are completed. Cleanup includes removal of debris, unused materials, and trash. Any necessary soil stabilization and reestablishing of vegetative cover will also occur during cleanup, following the procedures dictated in the SWPPP, if required. Pre-construction contours will also be restored following construction.
Governmental Agencies and Officials Contacted
Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)
TxDOT Waco District
TxDOT Division of Aviation
TxDOT Environmental Affairs Division
TxDOT Planning & Programming
