For a Republican stronghold in what folks once called “Bush Country,” we sure have lots of tree-huggers around here.

Sure evidence of that arose again last month, when scores of Woodway residents learned that entire trees on their property might fall in the huge swath of easement where Oncor Electric Delivery intends to place massive new transmission lines, an indication of area growth.

One prefers to think rankled residents are passionate lovers of the environment and all of God’s creatures that go with it. More likely, it’s about property issues. Besides the fact we all like trees standing tall on our own property, real estate agents will tell you that they really do add value to your land.

All of which meant huge fireworks when Oncor Electric Delivery revealed its plans, prompting a revolt among homeowners, apparently treated by the utility company in cavalier fashion. And we’re not just talking about the aggressive tree-trimming that sparked a similar rebellion in North Waco and West Waco a few years ago.

No, we’re talking about the felling of whole trees within 35 feet of either side of where the transmission line is to be built.

As a confirmed West Texan, I understand residents’ concerns. Where I’m from, folks treasure almost every single tree that manages to take root and survive that dusty, sun-baked, hardscrabble land, if only because it cuts across the endless horizon and practically demands we appreciate it.

A woman with whom I was acquainted was nearly run out of a small town in far West Texas after she moved there to run a motel and unwittingly ordered a huge oak tree cut down because it occasionally shed leaves and acorns into the motel pool.

From what I’m told, the townfolks there nearly ran her out on a rail — maybe one fashioned from the very tree she ordered cut down.

Because I’m a tree-hugger, too, I was glad to see Waco attorney and tree enthusiast Rick Bostwick lead some concerned Woodway citizens in convincing a judge to grant a temporary restraining order against Oncor. It’s sad, of course, that it took legal action to persuade Oncor officials to finally agree to meet with individual property owners to talk compromise.

When I asked Bostwick why it always seems to take weeks of community outrage and threats to compel utility companies to even be conciliatory, he said he suspected it had to do with corporate arrogance.

Plus, he said, utility companies assume this attitude because they know “most people won’t go through the expense and trouble of actually filing a lawsuit.”

Sadly, there’s not much other recourse for property owners concerned about their trees. Terry Hadley, spokesman for the Public Utility Commission of Texas, says commissioners regularly exhort utility companies to hear out property owners’ concerns and show a sense of compromise.

Yet he acknowledges these same utility companies are also under pressure to ensure service and reliability.

“Our commissioners have encouraged the utility companies to open up a dialogue (with residents) before the bulldozers start up,” he told me. “We find that’s effective. But there’s also a cost to trimming. We call it vegetation management and the cost of it is ultimately borne by the rate-buyer.”

Which may explain why the utility companies are now talking more about cutting down whole trees rather than just giving them a heck of a haircut.

The commission this spring is expected to approve regulations requiring comprehensive vegetation management plans from utility companies to ensure continuous delivery of power, especially in storms. That may short-circuit hopes that tree-lovers have if they’re in the path of progress.

“Our first priority is reliability,” Hadley said, “but there is certainly more room for sensitivity from utility companies and the tree-trimming companies they contract.”

Unfortunately, Hadley told me this between calls the PUC was getting about wintry weather forcing more tree limbs down onto more power lines, causing predictable outages across North Texas.

And if your power goes out on a cold and windy night, the last thing you might feel like hugging is a tree.