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Revised Texas transmission plan could affect 4,200 landowners, up from 2,800, while sparing a billionaire's ranch

By Eve

Oncor and the Lower Colorado River Authority have proposed a roughly 200-mile transmission project linking Temple to Schleicher County, according to Texas Monthly as reported by The Cool Down. The March draft could affect 4,200 landowners, compared with 2,800 under a June 2025 proposal, and route segments rose from about 80 to 171. Every proposed crossing of the 20,000-acre Los Valles Ranch, owned by Energy Transfer Partners CEO Kelcy Warren, was eliminated, and owners could contest compensation but not stop the route.

Why it matters

The plan is meant to supply oil facilities and data centres in the Permian Basin, so large new loads are competing for grid capacity and routing goodwill in Texas. CPOs and developers should expect landowner opposition and fairness disputes to shape how quickly grid upgrades reach the sites they are planning.

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Original title
“Texas power line plan puts 4,200 landowners in its path but spares a billionaire's ranch”
Published
30 October 2026
Updated
2 November 2026

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