Residents in Glen Rose are opposing a proposed Oncor transmission line project that could place towering power lines near Dinosaur Valley State Park, known for its world-class ancient dinosaur tracks.
The footprints, preserved in limestone along the Paluxy River, draw thousands of visitors each year and help define the small town’s identity.
“This is limestone the dinosaurs actually walked on,” Mayor Joe Boles said, CBS 11 reported. “You can see the claw marks. You can see the footprints.”
Boles emphasized the tracks’ significance to the community.
“You don’t have dinosaur prints [elsewhere] in Texas,” he said. “That’s why Glen Rose is known as the dinosaur capital of Texas.”
One potential route for the Dinosaur–Longshore Project would bring 200-foot towers close enough to be visible from areas near the park.
“And I try to tell people, visualize as you’re driving to the park … these 200-ft towers on both sides of the road,” Boles said during a tour.
The project calls for 765-kilovolt lines stretching from Somervell County to Howard County to handle rising electricity demands in Texas, with three potential routes under review.
Oncor said in a statement:
Oncor recognizes the cultural, educational, and ecological importance of Dinosaur Valley State Park. We appreciate the engagement we’ve seen from local community members on this project. None of the preliminary routes under consideration enter or cross the park.
All routes are still preliminary, and Oncor must present a geographically diverse set of routes in our application as part of regulatory requirements. We are reviewing these preliminary routes alongside our ongoing environmental assessment. Feedback from the local community is an important part of this process, and residents can continue to contact our team at transmissionprojects@oncor.com.
Local officials maintain that any nearby lines would harm the area’s natural beauty, ecosystem, and tourism-dependent economy, insisting the landscape deserves complete protection.
The Public Utility Commission has filed numerous letters from residents opposing the erection of the giant towers near the park.
