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April 1, 2026
Hill Country Preservation Coalition proposes alternate route for Howard-Solstice Transmission Line
Contributed
Today is the deadline to make public comment on the Howard-Solstice 765-kilovolt transmission line.
The Hill Country Preservation Coalition (HCPC), composed of conservation organizations and hundreds of grassroots supporters, has proposed a “Least Harmful Route” map for the transmission line as the only route that will minimize damage to pristine river basins and land fragmentation.
The Least Harmful Route is an approximately 370-mile route traveling west from the CPS Energy Howard Road Substation near San Antonio, south of the Edwards Aquifer recharge and contribution zones, turning north before entering the Devils River Basin, and then continuing west, north of the basin to the AEP Solstice Substation.
This path avoids cutting new corridors through the pristine Hill Country and West Texas terrain. While any transmission line will negatively impact the Hill Country and West Texas, the Least Harmful Route prioritizes alignment with existing infrastructure, avoids sensitive river basins and groundwater features, and helps protect working ranches, rural communities, and long-term economic vitality.
“The Least Harmful Route is the only path to minimize the potential harm caused by the largest transmission infrastructure this state has ever seen moving through one of its most precious landscapes,” Hill Country Preservation Coalition President Jada Jo Smith said. “Plus, by using existing highway infrastructure, this route is the best deal for taxpayers. While we wish no transmission line were cutting through Texas – and recognize that any route will present challenges for landowners and sensitive ecological areas – we believe this is the only viable path available to reduce harm. We are committed to working with CPS Energy, AEP Texas, and the Public Utility Commission of Texas to ensure that, if the Howard-Solstice line is built, it follows the Least Harmful Route.”
The Howard-Solstice transmission line is a joint project of CPS Energy and AEP Texas, designed to connect the San Antonio region to the Permian Basin. Spanning approximately 350 miles, the project would introduce the largest and highest-voltage transmission infrastructure ever built in Texas, supported by 160-foot towers and rights-of-way approaching 200 feet wide.
To leave comment and learn more, go to https://www.preservethehillcountry.com/
The Hill Country Preservation Coalition (HCPC), composed of conservation organizations and hundreds of grassroots supporters, has proposed a “Least Harmful Route” map for the transmission line as the only route that will minimize damage to pristine river basins and land fragmentation.
The Least Harmful Route is an approximately 370-mile route traveling west from the CPS Energy Howard Road Substation near San Antonio, south of the Edwards Aquifer recharge and contribution zones, turning north before entering the Devils River Basin, and then continuing west, north of the basin to the AEP Solstice Substation.
This path avoids cutting new corridors through the pristine Hill Country and West Texas terrain. While any transmission line will negatively impact the Hill Country and West Texas, the Least Harmful Route prioritizes alignment with existing infrastructure, avoids sensitive river basins and groundwater features, and helps protect working ranches, rural communities, and long-term economic vitality.
“The Least Harmful Route is the only path to minimize the potential harm caused by the largest transmission infrastructure this state has ever seen moving through one of its most precious landscapes,” Hill Country Preservation Coalition President Jada Jo Smith said. “Plus, by using existing highway infrastructure, this route is the best deal for taxpayers. While we wish no transmission line were cutting through Texas – and recognize that any route will present challenges for landowners and sensitive ecological areas – we believe this is the only viable path available to reduce harm. We are committed to working with CPS Energy, AEP Texas, and the Public Utility Commission of Texas to ensure that, if the Howard-Solstice line is built, it follows the Least Harmful Route.”
The Howard-Solstice transmission line is a joint project of CPS Energy and AEP Texas, designed to connect the San Antonio region to the Permian Basin. Spanning approximately 350 miles, the project would introduce the largest and highest-voltage transmission infrastructure ever built in Texas, supported by 160-foot towers and rights-of-way approaching 200 feet wide.
To leave comment and learn more, go to https://www.preservethehillcountry.com/