The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) formally ordered several transmission service providers to construct the new transmission lines that will be required to connect Competitive Renewable Energy Zones (CREZ) to load centers throughout the state. Atkins served as the environmental consultant for five of the eight transmission service providers selected to construct CREZ transmission facilities, completing a total of 26 projects (24 of which were 345-kV projects) that accounted for approximately 1,300 miles of transmission line. Atkins implemented innovative technologies that streamlined processes over the life of the projects, and facilitated efficient project management and reductions of time, cost, and risk for our clients.

Atkins’ staff provided agency coordination, constraints identification, alternative route development, implementation of an automated GIS tool specifically designed for transmission line evaluation, public involvement, and preparation of environmental assessment and routing analysis documents. After the CCN application were filed with the PUC, Atkins provided support with technical conferences, route adequacy hearings, responses to RFIs, and expert witness and rebuttal testimony for various PUC proceedings. Following route approval by the PUC, Atkins also conducted investigation of threatened and endangered species, potential Whooping Crane stop-over sites, surveys for potential bat roosting sites, Migratory Bird Treaty Act guidance, and cultural resource surveys.

• Ecological services
• Environmental permitting
• Environmental planning
• Geomatics/surveying
• Public involvement

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