Concern Over More Power Lines, Electric Substations in Round Rock

As Central Texas continues its rapid growth, energy needs have risen. But as electric companies propose plans to keep up with demand, some local residents are questioning how to get there.

The one answer they have is this: Not by chopping down trees in established older neighborhoods.

Jennifer Garen, a resident of the Oak Creek subdivision in Round Rock, says her community is united against a proposal to build power lines that will cut through the mainly-residential neighborhood.

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Garen said that Oak Creek residents were “flabbergasted” when they received a letter this month from the Lower Colorado River Authority that detailed a project to construct 138-kilovolt (kV) transmission lines to connect two new substations to existing ones in Leander and Round Rock.

“When we looked at the maps at the available routes, one cuts through a highway and undeveloped land and another goes through a neighborhood with houses, hiking and biking trails,” Garen told Patch. “It just seemed preposterous that [the neighborhood] option would be selected instead of going through undeveloped land.”

The two new electric substations will be located at Parmer Lane and FM 1431 in Round Rock and the other at Ronald Reagan Boulevard and Crystal Falls Parkway in Leander. The River Authority is working with the Pedernales Electric Cooperative on the project.

Garen described Oak Creek as an established residential neighborhood with an elementary school and places of worship. She said the only businesses in the area are medical facilities, and that the neighborhood is not part of the rapid growth occurring in Central Texas.

“This power line is not something we were expecting because we will not be getting the power from these power lines,” Garen said.

The main concern from the community is aesthetic. The Oak Creek community doesn’t want the River Authority to give its trees a haircut. The Construction project would cut down many trees in the residential area and replace them with ugly power lines. The lines would also cut through ranchland, greenbelts and even a hike and bike trail.

Other than aesthetic concerns, residents believe that the power lines could potentially reduce property values and make it harder to sell homes in the area. Some residents also believe that the close proximity of the power lines present a health hazard.

So the community took action, and the LCRA responded. The community will be meeting a representative from the LCRA Monday to share its concerns about the project. Garen said she doesn’t know how the meeting will go, but expects the community to be united.

Garen made it clear that she was not opposed to the goal of bringing more electricity into Round Rock to meet growing demand, but was opposed to how the LCRA wants to accomplish it.

“This is all about being a good neighbor. We want the Pedernales Electric Cooperative to come and for customers to have reliable electricity, but we would like them to be considerate about the route they choose to deliver that power,” Garen said.