Voices of Veterans
Recent news
By Will Holford
As the population increases across Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative’s service area and more rural land gives way to neighborhoods and businesses, preserving dark skies can help protect the quality of life that makes the region a desirable place to live and work.
For that reason, Bluebonnet has, since 2014, installed dark-sky compliant, LED lights when co-op members request security lights at their homes, businesses, farms and ranches.
The lights shine in a downward cone, with no light shining out from the side or above the fixture toward the sky.
This preserves the dark night sky while providing the safety and security of well-lighted ground.
A dark-sky compliant LED light can still be seen from nearby or at a distance. It also appears brighter than a standard security light because its cone of illumination is focused on, and contained to, a smaller area. Such a shielded light pointing only downward allows for the same level of brightness and security, but does not illuminate the sky above.
“The important thing for people to know is that dark sky doesn’t mean dark ground,” said Thomas Ellis, Bluebonnet’s manager of engineering. “The LED lights we install at our members’ request are an improvement over the previous security lights. They are better for the environment because they use less energy and significantly reduce light pollution.”
Although Bluebonnet has installed thousands of dark-sky compliant LED security lights in the last eight years, there are still many older lights on the cooperative’s power system. If one of these older lights stops working, and it cannot be repaired, Bluebonnet will replace it with a dark-sky compliant light at no additional cost beyond a standard $10 to $20 monthly fee per light. That fee varies depending on the size of the light.
Bluebonnet members who do not currently have a security light can request a dark-sky compliant light. Members who want to replace older security lights with a dark-sky compliant LED light will pay a one-time fee of $125, in addition to the monthly charge of $10 to $20.
Get information or request a security light online at bluebonnet.coop/security-lights or by calling a Bluebonnet member service representative at 800-842-7708, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
A $19,429 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority and Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative will help the Heart of the Pines Volunteer Fire Department improve its response time and rescue operations.
The Community Development Partnership Program grant, along with $4,734 in matching funds from the department, will allow the VFD to purchase 12 sets of new personal protective equipment and a fire-rescue saw.
Heart of the Pines VFD currently uses gear that’s nearing its expiration date and was originally fit for volunteers who have since left the department. Since the gear doesn’t properly fit current firefighters, it takes longer to put the equipment on, extending the department’s response time.
Assistant Fire Chief Joshua Lucas said having equipment that fits properly allows first responders to arrive at emergencies and assess the situation more quickly.
“When seconds count, every moment matters,” Lucas said. “Gear fitted properly is a huge asset to the citizens of the areas we serve.”
The addition of a new fire-rescue saw will significantly cut the time for rescue operations Lucas said. A fire-rescue saw is used to cut concrete, rebar, tin roofs, metal buildings, garage doors and more.
The Heart of the Pines VFD is one of the only remaining all-volunteer fire departments serving Bastrop County. Fundraising, donations, grants and dues help fund the department.
The community grant is one of six grants being awarded by Bluebonnet and the LCRA through LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program, which helps volunteer fire departments, local governments, emergency responders and nonprofit organizations fund capital improvement projects in LCRA’s wholesale electric, water and transmission service areas. The program is part of LCRA’s effort to give back to the communities it serves. Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative is one of LCRA’s wholesale electric customers and is a partner in the grant program
Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted in July. More information is available here.
