Sam Houston Electric Cooperative, Inc. filed a request 5-12-2004 to
the Public Utility Commission of Texas to approve their certificate
of convenience and necessity (known as "CCN") to construct a transmission line
in San Jacinto County. Several routes were proposed for this transmission line;
SHECO is proposing "Alternate Route 9". This route roughly follows FM 980 from
Staley, north of Waterwood, to Point Blank, eight miles south of Waterwood. This
route would require the removal of more pine trees along FM 980 in order to
construct an unsightly electrical line along this ten-mile stretch of mostly
scenic forested acreage (includes several protected nature preserves as well as
Waterwood's entrance areas). Another route which would be slightly more costly
for SHECO to construct/maintain because it is not directly acessible to FM 980
is "Alternate Route 1". This route is not visible from FM 980 and follows an
abandoned pipeline, largely through clearcuts, pastures, plantations, and
unprotected acreages.

If you would like to protest SHECO's selection of "Alternate Route 9" for the
new and larger transmission line because you have concerns it will negatively
affect the recreational/nature tourism and real estate markets in northern San
Jacinto County, you can file a "protest" by using PUC's official protest form
(open and print a PDF file titled "PUC Protest Form" from the Waterwood Watchdog
site; click on below link, sign in, and then click on "files" on left column).
Or, email Waterwood Watchdog for an individual email with this attachment
(terrier77340@...)

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/waterwoodwatchdog/

July 23 is the date of the "intervention" which is an administrative procedure
before the PUC in reference to PUC Docket No. 29705, Application of Sam Houston
Electric Cooperative, Inc. for a Certificate of Convenience (CCN). To protest,
fill out the one-page protest form, make ten copies for the Commissioners and
mail by July 19 (address is on the protest form). If enough people protest
SHECO's selection of Alternate Route 9, the Commissioners can recommend that
SHECO choose Alternate Route 1 to construct their transmission line.