Devils River Conservancy Recognizes Significant Incorporation of Stakeholder Input; Remains Engaged to Protect the Conservation Corridor

AUSTIN, Texas—On March 2, 2026, AEP Texas and CPS Energy filed a Certificate of Convenience and Necessity (CCN) application for the Howard–Solstice Transmission Line with the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT), formally initiating the state’s review process.

The filing identifies 77 alternative route variations and designates Alternative Route 4 as the applicants’ preferred route.

*Alternate Route 4, identified as the preferred route in the CCN application, is represented by the red line. Click the image to zoom. For maps of specific segments, see the* ***Environmental Assessment and Alternative Route Analysis*** *link in the Resources section below.*

The Devils River Conservancy (DRC) has engaged consistently throughout the pre-filing process to protect the Devils River, the Lower Pecos River, and the Devils River Conservation Corridor—a landscape defined by decades of voluntary private land stewardship, conservation easements, and state investment through the Devils River State Natural Area.

The application reflects significant incorporation of stakeholder input, including concerns raised by DRC, local landowners, the Hill Country Preservation Coalition, and regional elected officials. Notably, the preferred route avoids bisecting the Devils River between the two units of the Devils River State Natural Area and the delicate headwater springs near Juno—central concerns that DRC repeatedly communicated during the pre-filing engagement.

DRC recognizes that while Alternative Route 4 avoids some of the most sensitive areas identified during stakeholder engagement, it is not without impact. Several landowners, including long-time stewards of this region, remain affected by the preferred route.

“From the beginning, our objective has been clear: protect the heart of the Devils River and the integrity of the conservation corridor that has kept it pristine,” said Romey Swanson, Executive Director of the Devils River Conservancy. “The filing demonstrates significant incorporation of stakeholder input, and that matters. At the same time, our work is not finished. We remain committed to ensuring any permitted route minimizes impacts within the Devils River Basin and respects the stewardship legacy of the landowners who have invested so much here.”

As the application moves into formal review, DRC believes that any routing south of Alternative Route 4—particularly routes that would cross the Devils River or headwaters below the preferred alignment—would significantly degrade both the river itself and the culture of stewardship that has protected it for generations.

DRC will continue working directly with landowners, remain engaged with the applicants where constructive refinements may be possible, and continue to advocate for the least harmful outcome to the conservation corridors of the Devils River and Lower Pecos.

“As a landowner, I treasure the qualities that define this place—its clean waters, dark skies, wildlife, and sense of remoteness,” said Ruthie Russell, President of the Devils River Conservancy. “I’m thankful for the steady and pragmatic leadership DRC has shown to protect the conservation corridor. Our goal remains simple: protect what makes the Devils River irreplaceable.”

Community Meeting—March 18, Del Rio

DRC, in partnership with the Hill Country Preservation Coalition, will host a community meeting in Del Rio on March 18 to:

Review the CCN filing and preferred route
Walk through the alternative routes identified in the application
Explain the PUCT review process
Outline options for public participation and landowner intervention

Time and location details will be announced shortly.

How the Public Can Engage

Public Comment:

Any member of the public may submit written comments to the PUCT. DRC encourages those concerned about the Devils River Basin to support routing that avoids crossing the Devils River south of Alternative Route 4 and to emphasize protection of conserved lands within the watershed, including those adjacent to Alternative Route 4.

The Edwards Plateau Alliance has prepared step-by-step instructions for how to file public comments through the PUCT Interchange Filer. Please ensure you use Case #59336 to submit comments concerning the application.

LANDOWNER INTERVENTION:

Landowners or operators directly affected by any identified route may seek intervenor status by filing a formal request within 30 days of the application filing (by April 1, 2026). Intervenors become legal parties to the proceeding and may present evidence and testimony. DRC encourages directly impacted landowners to consider this option and will provide information to assist them.

Following the conclusion of the hearing before an administrative law judge, a proposed route will be identified based on the evidence introduced at the hearing. Thereafter, the PUCT is not required to finally approve the route selected by the administrative hearing and retains discretion to alter it or may choose from any of the identified alternatives.

Resources

Media Contact:

Romey Swanson

Executive Director, Devils River Conservancy

romey.swanson@devilsriverconservancy.org

(512) 667-8124