AMARILLO, TX -- An almost endangered bird and a plan for power transmission lines are causing quite a stir for some people in Gray County, and those residents are trying to do something to protect their investments and their bottom line
Land and property owners along with the Gray County Commission are combating the federal government, the State of Texas and the wind energy power line companies .
They came together today to have an informative meeting at the Gray County Extension building in Pampa.
The purpose was to openly discuss the transmission lines that are planned to take electricity from wind farms in the Panhandle to consumers downstate, but all negotiations so far have been handled at the state level or in the courts -- the locals haven't been consulted.
"These power companies went to the Public Utility Commission and they haven't come to us as landowners, as county commissioners, as residents and business owners and operators . They're just going way above our head and we're not getting a say in any of this matter, and that's what this meeting is about bringing local control back to local government," said LH Webb, area landowner and rancher.
These power lines are not so much about supplying electricity to other parts of the state as it is about the Lesser Prairie Chicken, which is a candidate for being listing as either a threatened or endangered species.
"We'll be directly impacted by any listing of an endangered species because it'll alter the way which we conduct business with existing wells and explore for new reserves everywhere that the listed animal has a habitat, so we're directly concerned because it has an effect on our bottom line," said Wayne Hughes, Panhandle Producers and Royalty Owners Association Executive Vice President.
Hughes continued to say that the reality of the situation is going to call for some adaptation.
"Within the next three to four years that will become a reality, so what we're obligated to do at this time is to do some really dynamic, proactive planning on how to best adapt ourselves to that and how to try to continue to do business within their protected habitat."
There are some property and land owners that are in favor of the transmission lines because they will get quit the compensation for it.
We spoke to the Public Utility Commission and some landowners already agreed to a unanimous settlement agreement of a transmission route last month.
