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Attorney General Ken Paxton calls for pause on Texas' first 765-kilovolt transmission lines as landowners protest.

Attorney General Ken Paxton has requested that the Public Utility Commission of Texas pause the development of the state's first 765-kilovolt transmission lines. While the commission recently approved the final routes for these ultrahigh voltage lines, Paxton argued that the project requires a full review by state lawmakers to ensure it is best for the people of Texas. Landowners across the state are expressing significant opposition, citing concerns over property rights, environmental impacts, and the lack of a level playing field for those notified late in the process. Representative Brad Buckley noted that the utility company, Oncor, has moved quickly, sometimes leaving landowners with less than a month to respond. Oncor maintains that the 765-kV projects are essential for the reliability of the ERCOT grid and to prevent power outages in West Texas. The administration of the project aims to create an electricity "superhighway" to carry power efficiently. The commission has yet to rule on Paxton's motion to defer the project until the next legislative session.

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