Caution! T.Boone Pickens Plans to Permanently Alter Texas's Landscape above and below Ground, from the Panhandle to Metropolis

Date

2008

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Texas Tech Journal of Texas Administrative Law

Abstract

Addresses how T. Boone Pickens plans to use a fresh water supply district to supply water from the Texas Panhandle’s portion of the Ogallala Aquifer to a major metropolitan area in need, and provide alternative wind energy to that area. This comment explains the administrative regulations that a fresh water supply district must comply with and clarifies the other administrative agencies that a fresh water supply district must answer to in order to gain the ability to transfer groundwater from the Texas Panhandle to a metropolitan area. It explores the breadth and limitations on a fresh water supply district’s power of eminent domain as it will attempt to condemn property from landowners in Texas to lay a water pipeline from the Texas Panhandle to a metropolitan area. Finally, it explains how Pickens will be able to use his fresh water supply district to not only supply fresh water, but also to supply wind energy from the Texas Panhandle to a major metropolitan area.

Description

Keywords

Administrative law, Texas Water Development Board, TWDB, Groundwater conservation, Water law, Ogallala aquifer, Fresh Water Supply District, Wind energy, Eminent domain, Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District

Citation

9 Tex. Tech. Admin. L.J. 265