Residences and businesses located along SH 121 in Allen and McKinney could have a new neighbor if one of three potential sites is selected for a 5-acre electric substation and its accompanying transmission line, known as the Kittyhawk project.

Brazos Electric Cooperative, the region’s wholesale electric-generation and transmission provider, filed the Kittyhawk request Oct. 14 with the state’s Public Utility Commission, which will select the final location. Proposed sites include areas in McKinney, Allen, Frisco and Plano.

The city of McKinney filed a motion to intervene—or filed a formal protest—on Oct. 17, which said the city and its residents and businesses located within city limits may be adversely impacted by the outcome of the Kittyhawk power lines and substation. The deadline to file a motion to intervene is Nov. 28.

Brazos and CoServ, a not-for-profit electric distribution cooperative serving North Texas and one of Brazos’ members, have met with all four cities regarding the project, which, in addition to the city of McKinney, is seeing opposition from the city of Allen and Allen ISD regarding the proposed locations. The city of Plano passed a resolution supporting whichever route is the most cost-effective, and the city of Frisco has yet to take a stance on the issue.

“This is just one of eight projects that are coming up in the region, and in this particular case we are talking about McKinney, Allen, Frisco and Plano,” CoServ Director of Communications Oscar Martinez said. “But, suddenly when you are in an area with four cities involved and nobody wants it in their backyard, it gets really interesting.”

Officials from CoServ said the need for the $25.5 million project has been increased because of the significant population increase seen in North Texas in recent years. Martinez said the current electric infrastructure in the area is set to exceed its capacity by 2019. CoServ officials said the Kittyhawk project will meet the expected demand through at least 2025.

A McKinney commercial corridor

McKinney officials agree there is a need for the Kittyhawk project but are questioning its location, which city officials said could disrupt development along SH 121, which officials consider a major commercial corridors.

“The potential routes in McKinney are in areas where significant development has already occurred, is occurring or where plans for future development are already at the stage of where significant investment has occurred from both the private sector and public sector,” Mayor Brian Loughmiller said.

Loughmiller said there are other locations for Kittyhawk that do not conflict with such developments, adding that the SH 121 corridor is one of only three options in McKinney for significant future commercial development.

“The City Council is concerned because the SH 121 corridor is a significant corridor for the creation of future commercial tax base, corporate and employment centers, and retail and restaurants,” he said.  “We need to protect those corridors to maximize the development potential for our city.”

The council has been active in its efforts to protect the corridor. On May 17, Brazos held a stakeholders meeting to formally present the project to the public and also made a presentation to McKinney City Council on May 23. On June 7 council voted unanimously to oppose the proposed location of the project within McKinney.

On Sept. 20, council voted to modify the city’s zoning ordinances to require the City Council’s approval of a specific-use permit before an electrical substation can be built anywhere within the city of McKinney.

Michael Quint, city of McKinney executive director of development services, said a specific use permit allows the city to evaluate the proposed land use—in this case an electrical substation—for compatibility with neighboring land uses while also giving the council an opportunity to exercise some discretion over the proposed use’s layout and screening devices. [totalpoll id="197608"]

Prior to the vote, electrical substations were allowed in most zoning districts within the city, so the council did not have the ability to weigh in on any proposed site locations or layouts.

The next step

When CoServ identifies new substation needs, Brazos works to identify potential sites, then presents the options for consideration to the Public Utility Commission of Texas by filing a certificate of convenience and necessity (CCN). The PUCT will then review the material and determine first if the project is needed, and second, where the project will be developed, CoServ officials said.

According to CoServ, the next step includes providing all appropriate notices to local governing agencies and the public followed by an intervention period, which lasts roughly 12 months. PUCT officials said a hearing process  takes place for opposition from affected parties to be heard, adding that cities frequently participate in CCN cases.

“The CCN is really an opportunity for a contested case or hearing,” PUCT spokesperson Terry Hadley said. “It’s very similar to a typical hearing process where people would file testimony, present evidence, [and] ask questions of the applicant, and that is a process that could take several months.”

If there is opposition, a separate state agency would conduct hearings, and an administrative law judge would issue a recommendation or proposal for a decision. The PUCT would then decide the location based on those findings.

In order for a party to be included in a hearing, Hadley said it must show it is directly affected by the project.

“Generally that means a property owner of land where the [transmission] line might go over or a city or local government feels whatever is proposed would directly affect the operations of the city and its citizens,” he said.

Martinez said CoServ wants the public to be involved in the CCN process.

“If you see the maps and don’t like the location, then you have every right to complain and file a formal complaint with the PUCT,” he said.