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Tanya Tucker testifies before Texas Senate to advocate for fairer transmission line approval process

Tanya Tucker, a country music legend, testified before the Texas Senate Committee on Business and Commerce to advocate for a more transparent and fair approval process for new transmission lines. During the hearing, Tucker expressed disappointment with the current system, which she argued rushes to approve massive projects without adequately protecting private property rights. Senate Business and Commerce Chairman Charles Schwertner and Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick joined the push for legislative reforms, calling on regulators to reject pending applications until the process is overhauled. They argued that the current 180-day timeline is often too short for landowners to navigate the complex legal requirements. While the transmission lines are necessary to meet growing energy demands in the Permian Basin, many landowners testified that the current process favors utilities over those whose land is permanently altered. The administration of the project's primary utility, Oncor, remains committed to the grid's reliability, but lawmakers are now considering extending deadlines and improving notice for future projects.

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