A coalition 25 Texas state legislators has formally requested that the Public Utility Commission (PUC) pause a proposed $33 billion transmission expansion in the Permian Basin, according to a May 13 newsletter sent by Representative Ellen Troxclair (R-Fredricksburg).
In a joint letter, the group argued that the state should prioritize the construction of new natural gas generation facilities closer to the point of demand rather than overbuilding transmission infrastructure that they claim fails to add net capacity to the grid.
The push for a “more thoughtful and deliberate approach” comes as legislators warn that Texas remains “woefully behind” in building reliable generation. Lawmakers noted that only one natural gas plant has come online since before Winter Storm Uri, with a new facility expected to begin operations this month.
According to the coalition, the current Permian Basin Reliability Plan—which involves the construction of 15-to-18-story high-voltage towers across rural Texas—can be successfully executed without the “immediate construction of all proposed Import Paths”.
Legislators emphasized that while transmission is a component of grid health, prioritizing dependable generation near the fuel source strengthens long-term reliability while avoiding the “unnecessary expansion” of infrastructure across private property.
According to the newsletter, the proposed lines would primarily move existing electricity across the state without a “meaningful increase” in reliable power. Lawmakers argued this approach would cost ratepayers billions while threatening the farming and ranching communities that “have shaped our state for generations”.
The effort reflects a broadening consensus in both chambers, growing from an initial group of five to a coalition of 25 signatories. The letter to the PUC includes signatures from Senator Pete Flores and Representatives Buckley, Cook, Cunningham, Darby, Frank, Harris-Davila, Hayes, Hickland, Holt, Isaac, Leach, Leo-Wilson, Luther, McLaughlin, Money, Morgan, Oliverson, Richardson, Shofner, Swanson, Vasut, Virdell, Wilson, and Troxclair.
The letter states that the goal of improving infrastructure should be to enhance resilience and reduce costs while protecting private property rights.
Representative Troxclair argued that the end of federal wind and solar subsidies presents Texas with a unique opportunity to “rebalance the energy market” and encourage long-term investment in dispatchable generation. This legislative scrutiny has gained broader attention; Troxclair recently appeared on a Fox News “In Focus” segment to detail her opposition to the current plan and encourage public participation in the PUC’s formal docket.
“Texans deserve a more thoughtful and deliberate approach to improving existing infrastructure, one that enhances reliability and resilience, reduces costs, and better protects private property rights,” the lawmakers stated in their letter to the PUC.