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,

With the support of a $25,000 grant from Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative and the Lower Colorado River Authority, St. John Lutheran Church in New Ulm will upgrade playground equipment and make other improvements at its community park.
 
The Community Development Partnership Program grant, along with $64,540 in matching funds from the church, will pay for a covered pavilion, new playground equipment, and wheelchair-accessible sidewalks and table areas.
 
“Our church built this community park in the early 1990s,” said Bryan Haevischer, St. John Lutheran Church council member. “It’s outdated and badly needs to be upgraded. Getting a covered pavilion, new equipment and sidewalks will help the playground be used even more.”
 
Haevischer said the church is responsible for maintaining the park, which has restrooms that are available to the public 24/7.
 
He said the park is used every day, which is why he believes this renovation project is much needed and long overdue.
 
“Receiving this grant made this project possible for our community, and I’m so excited to get started,” Haevischer said. “This park will soon be an even better place for people to take their children. It will give families a nice spot to get away during the day and spend time together.”
 
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