Before the Police Jury could celebrate their Christmas party, they had to get through another long and packed house meeting. The second such meeting in two months. On the agenda this month were two controversial topics. All members were present at the 10:00 meeting on Wednesday.

The first topic of discussion was the Southern Spirit Transmission Project. According to their website, this project is an approximately 320-mile ±525 KV, ~3,000 MW high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line connecting Electric Reliability Council of Texas, Inc. (ERCOT) and Southeastern transmission grids. This high voltage power line will begin in Louisiana at the Texas border and extend approximately 400 miles to Mississippi. It will connect into Texas by way of the Rusk to Panola Transmission project in partnership with Garland Power & Light.

Mr. Emory Delton of Southern Spirit addressed the jury in hopes of getting the jury to adopt a resolution in favor of the project. Questions from the jury members began with the environmental impact and the disturbance of farmers in the area. Delton assured the Police Jury that all would be minimal. He also discussed that surveys had already been conducted of the lands proposed for the lines to transect. This would be 21 miles of Red River Parish lands. He indicated that the possibility of eminent domain may be instituted in this project.

Shane Hubbard questioned the interference with gas pipeline projects. Hubbard stated that he was aware of problems with highlines of this magnitude degrading pipeline structure. Delton said the highline would try to work with pipeline owners to minimize this problem.

Another question from the members was if Red River would benefit in any way. Delton said the benefit would mostly be in Desoto Parish where the conversion plant is proposed. No power would be used in Louisiana. This is a line from Texas to Mississippi to benefit those states.

Following this discussion, people opposing this project appeared before the police jury. Attorneys for several landowners addressed the jury to say that the project has no benefit in Louisiana at all and that only problems would come from this. Gilliam stated that this is a company from outside the U.S. that is doing a test run on a private venture for profit. “There is no person in Louisiana to call if someone has a problem. There is no entity in Louisiana that has jurisdiction over this company.”

Jimmy Marston, Landowner, spoke up and said that this project intends to cut his land at East Point in half. He said the intent is not to work with the landowners, but to take their land without compensation or improvement. He asked the Jury to oppose the project. Members of other families affected by this project stood in agreement of Marston’s words.

Mr. Paul Dickson of the Ducks Unlimited association addressed the group and discussed that the detrimental effects to wetlands and waterfowl could not be overlooked. He stated that Highlines are the #1 cause of death for waterfowl. “This is an enormous highline, the likes of which none of us has ever seen.” He also stated that the proposed route will go through protected lands. He asked the jury to not only oppose but to be vocal in keeping it out of Red River Parish.

The Jury ultimately decided to take no action in the matter and tabled it to send to a committee for the January meeting.