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July 20, 2022
Today I will start with a brief history lesson of solar, then I will tell you where I am going with this.
Information from The Smithsonian tells us it all began with Edmond Becquerel, a young physicist working in France, who in 1839 observed and discovered the photovoltaic effect. The first patent was filed in 1860 for the first solar powered engine and 1888 in the U.S. the first solar powered device. Charles Fritts created the first solar cell in 1883.
When the solar company tells you this is new technology which is going to save us all from ourselves, I want you to think again! This technology has been around for almost 200 years. The first industrial scale solar facility was built in 1983, 100 years after the first invention. It only lasted 11 years before being demolished.
I like to think about history, it wasn’t my strong suit at school, couldn’t memorize all those dates ad nauseum, but it didn’t stop me enjoying it. Now I have lived this long I feel I am part of it and certainly see it in a different light, but I digress.
Getting to my point about this technology and the fact it has been around for so long, why has it not progressed like all our other advances in technology? The first solar cell had an efficiency rate of 1 percent some 100 years ago, now they have an efficiency of 18-20 percent, not a huge gain in all that time. Think about the advances in oil and gas and all that have given us this abundant world we live in. Think about the nuclear advances and what it has given us and the natural gas revolution, all giving us cheap energy. This has all happened in a short period of time and technology has made power plants more efficient and cleaner, though they can always do more. And somehow solar is the poor stepchild, it just hasn’t performed.
Going back to history – 48 years ago Congress passed the Solar Energy Research, Development and Demonstration Act of 1974, “to make solar viable and affordable and market it to the public.” The federal government began handing out grants and tax incentives for research and development for solar and the 2006 Investment Tax Credit brought corporations looking for more money. The Texas Ch 313 Economic Development Program was set up in 2002 and the renewable industry found it beneficial getting state money and local tax breaks. The job requirement, which was a big part of the program, was set aside by the school districts signing a waiver, instead of 10 rural jobs, only 1-2 jobs were created long term.
One of the largest factors playing into the economics of a solar farm is the rental rate that can be offered for a solar lease to the landowners and the state and local incentives, CH 313 and Ch 312, to renewable energy projects. The incentives also come in the form of Renewable Energy Credits (REC), Performance-based incentives (PBI) or Feed-In Tariff (FIT), as well as all the federal credits and incentives. To point out just how much this cost us, the well-known name you will recognize is Berkshire Hathaway Energy; in its latest filings according to an article by Robert Bryce, has collected about $2.7 billion in tax credits over the last three years and Warren Buffet, the chairman and CEO famously said the “only reason” to build wind projects is to collect the PTC. This shows you just some of the scope of the Production Tax Credit program.
Many of you may have heard of Solyndra and their debacle. This solar enterprise took billions of dollars in investor funds and $535 million of taxpayer funds and then had to filed bankruptcy. This solar panel manufacturer, among many others have gone belly up and the industry moved to China, where there are no regulations, no environment controls and forced and slave labor, who can compete with that? Who is to say they don’t have an on-off switch embedded in the panels we buy from them? I have heard there have been spy devises implanted in the substations we bought from them! Now energy security is at risk.
So, you see where all this history is leading. Solar technology has not led the charge, it is the tax incentives and grant programs handing out money that drives this industry. This program of throwing money at solar and wind will not solve our problems and will not make it affordable. The fallacy of thinking that if we build more it will work better is ludicrous. We are paying for it twice, once through the tax man and then through our utility bill. Let’s not pay for it a third time by having to clean it up after they are gone. This year since Dec 2021 alone, there have been over 23 million solar panels installed and now online. At $2-$3 each to send to a land fill (chances are they won’t take them) or $15-$20 conservatively, to recycle (if they can find somewhere to do it), in five to 10 years there will be a huge problem and additional expense for solar companies or communities. Who knows what it will cost in the future.
Information from The Smithsonian tells us it all began with Edmond Becquerel, a young physicist working in France, who in 1839 observed and discovered the photovoltaic effect. The first patent was filed in 1860 for the first solar powered engine and 1888 in the U.S. the first solar powered device. Charles Fritts created the first solar cell in 1883.
When the solar company tells you this is new technology which is going to save us all from ourselves, I want you to think again! This technology has been around for almost 200 years. The first industrial scale solar facility was built in 1983, 100 years after the first invention. It only lasted 11 years before being demolished.
I like to think about history, it wasn’t my strong suit at school, couldn’t memorize all those dates ad nauseum, but it didn’t stop me enjoying it. Now I have lived this long I feel I am part of it and certainly see it in a different light, but I digress.
Getting to my point about this technology and the fact it has been around for so long, why has it not progressed like all our other advances in technology? The first solar cell had an efficiency rate of 1 percent some 100 years ago, now they have an efficiency of 18-20 percent, not a huge gain in all that time. Think about the advances in oil and gas and all that have given us this abundant world we live in. Think about the nuclear advances and what it has given us and the natural gas revolution, all giving us cheap energy. This has all happened in a short period of time and technology has made power plants more efficient and cleaner, though they can always do more. And somehow solar is the poor stepchild, it just hasn’t performed.
Going back to history – 48 years ago Congress passed the Solar Energy Research, Development and Demonstration Act of 1974, “to make solar viable and affordable and market it to the public.” The federal government began handing out grants and tax incentives for research and development for solar and the 2006 Investment Tax Credit brought corporations looking for more money. The Texas Ch 313 Economic Development Program was set up in 2002 and the renewable industry found it beneficial getting state money and local tax breaks. The job requirement, which was a big part of the program, was set aside by the school districts signing a waiver, instead of 10 rural jobs, only 1-2 jobs were created long term.
One of the largest factors playing into the economics of a solar farm is the rental rate that can be offered for a solar lease to the landowners and the state and local incentives, CH 313 and Ch 312, to renewable energy projects. The incentives also come in the form of Renewable Energy Credits (REC), Performance-based incentives (PBI) or Feed-In Tariff (FIT), as well as all the federal credits and incentives. To point out just how much this cost us, the well-known name you will recognize is Berkshire Hathaway Energy; in its latest filings according to an article by Robert Bryce, has collected about $2.7 billion in tax credits over the last three years and Warren Buffet, the chairman and CEO famously said the “only reason” to build wind projects is to collect the PTC. This shows you just some of the scope of the Production Tax Credit program.
Many of you may have heard of Solyndra and their debacle. This solar enterprise took billions of dollars in investor funds and $535 million of taxpayer funds and then had to filed bankruptcy. This solar panel manufacturer, among many others have gone belly up and the industry moved to China, where there are no regulations, no environment controls and forced and slave labor, who can compete with that? Who is to say they don’t have an on-off switch embedded in the panels we buy from them? I have heard there have been spy devises implanted in the substations we bought from them! Now energy security is at risk.
So, you see where all this history is leading. Solar technology has not led the charge, it is the tax incentives and grant programs handing out money that drives this industry. This program of throwing money at solar and wind will not solve our problems and will not make it affordable. The fallacy of thinking that if we build more it will work better is ludicrous. We are paying for it twice, once through the tax man and then through our utility bill. Let’s not pay for it a third time by having to clean it up after they are gone. This year since Dec 2021 alone, there have been over 23 million solar panels installed and now online. At $2-$3 each to send to a land fill (chances are they won’t take them) or $15-$20 conservatively, to recycle (if they can find somewhere to do it), in five to 10 years there will be a huge problem and additional expense for solar companies or communities. Who knows what it will cost in the future.
Joanna Friebele
Landowner and tax payer
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Courtesy Photo
June 18, 2022
I live on Privilege Creek Rd in Pipe Creek. Yesterday afternoon I received a call from my neighbor across the road telling me there was a grass fire on my property her son Caden had spotted from their house. I ran outside to discover the grass fire quickly spreading in the front pasture. I called 911 then ran to the barn, where I grabbed a hose to put out the flames dangerously close.
The neighbor boys - Caden Smith, 15, and Lawsen Smith, 10, drove through my gate and started carrying water in a bucket and wheel barrel to keep the fire from spreading. They worked diligently to keep the fire at bay until and after the fire department arrived. By then, my husband Rodney was home and he and the boys continued to fight the fire. These boys are true heroes and should be recognized. Without their help it would have been so much worse. I didn't have time to think - and they came to the rescue.
An electrical wire on a power pole had blown loose due to strong wind and was cracking loudly and shooting sparks on the ground. I am so grateful we didn't lose any property and had very little real damage from the fire. Other neighbors I'd like to mention are Mike and JoAnn Arguelles, Carol Antell, and Chad and Lisa Smith, who literally helped put out the fire with hoses.
We also want to thank the Castle Lake VFD and BEC for reacting so quickly to our situation.
We were very lucky!
The neighbor boys - Caden Smith, 15, and Lawsen Smith, 10, drove through my gate and started carrying water in a bucket and wheel barrel to keep the fire from spreading. They worked diligently to keep the fire at bay until and after the fire department arrived. By then, my husband Rodney was home and he and the boys continued to fight the fire. These boys are true heroes and should be recognized. Without their help it would have been so much worse. I didn't have time to think - and they came to the rescue.
An electrical wire on a power pole had blown loose due to strong wind and was cracking loudly and shooting sparks on the ground. I am so grateful we didn't lose any property and had very little real damage from the fire. Other neighbors I'd like to mention are Mike and JoAnn Arguelles, Carol Antell, and Chad and Lisa Smith, who literally helped put out the fire with hoses.
We also want to thank the Castle Lake VFD and BEC for reacting so quickly to our situation.
We were very lucky!
Lynette Kindred
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April 21, 2022
Many thanks to Miss Vicki for the coverage of the Lakehills Farmer’s Market. We are looking forward to growing and serving a deserving community. This is a labor of love, and with the commitment the Speicher’s have made, is sure to be a success.
Sharon Corwin
Lakehills
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April 12, 2022
I've lived in Lakehills since 2018 and when I looked up the census records we have the largest population in Bandera county....but for some reason we do not have our own post office. We have a tax office and we have a Municipal Court... but no post office. How could this come about? Why does the largest population have to drive to a neighboring town to collect their mail?
Amanda Furr
Lakehills
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March 24, 2022
It is a great honor to serve Medina as your new Postmaster. In my 11 years with the United States Postal Service, I have seen firsthand the role the Postal Service plays connecting neighbors and our community to the nation. Our Post Offices serve as a lifeline for our small businesses to reach customers no matter where they are.
Under Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s leadership and Delivering For America, the Postal Service’s 10-year plan, we are maintaining universal six-day mail delivery and expanded seven-day package delivery, stabilizing our workforce, and spurring innovation to meet the needs of our modern customers.
From an incredibly successful 2021 holiday mail and shipping season to our current role delivering COVID-19 tests, the Postal Service continues to provide a vital service for our nation and right here in Medina.
On behalf of the 650,000 women and men of the United States Postal Service, and specifically the employees of the Medina Post Office, allow me to thank the community for their continuing support of the Postal Service. Providing reliable mail delivery while strengthening the future of this treasured institution is our commitment to the American public.
Under Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s leadership and Delivering For America, the Postal Service’s 10-year plan, we are maintaining universal six-day mail delivery and expanded seven-day package delivery, stabilizing our workforce, and spurring innovation to meet the needs of our modern customers.
From an incredibly successful 2021 holiday mail and shipping season to our current role delivering COVID-19 tests, the Postal Service continues to provide a vital service for our nation and right here in Medina.
On behalf of the 650,000 women and men of the United States Postal Service, and specifically the employees of the Medina Post Office, allow me to thank the community for their continuing support of the Postal Service. Providing reliable mail delivery while strengthening the future of this treasured institution is our commitment to the American public.
Sincerely,
Brenda Braddock
Postmaster
Medina, TX 78055
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February 8, 2022
Thanks y’all
This is the third year I’ve had the opportunity to thank all of the folks who came out to help with the Christmas display on the courthouse lawn. This year was different than the past a new group has been formed to help with Christmas and other activities in the county for all of the groups/510c3 that put on the events. This group is know as BCAG (Bandera Community Action Group).
This year not only the courthouse but part of the city’s river park was decorated by the group. Twelve groups/churches/business put displays. Not bad for the first attempt. We also had Christmas carols and music groups at both courthouse and river park. The Bandera 4-H shotgun team took in over $1700 in donations. Next year we’re hoping more groups can participate.
The BCAG is trying to help the community and we hope it will grow.
Thanks to all who helped, Bandera 4H, Pipe Creek 4H and 4H parents, Boys & Girls club, Bandera Chamber of Commerce, Bandera CVB, BBA, Knights of Columbus, Bandera County Juvenile Probations ,and several churches. Bandera county for use of courthouse lawn, City of Bandera for use of City Park, the bucket truck and employees, Bandera EDC for lights and displays and, of course, Chip Aragones for the lights on the courthouse.
Also want to give a special thanks to The Dough Joe and Five Points for donated pizzas, and Partners Bank for bottles of drinking water.
Keep up the good work
This year not only the courthouse but part of the city’s river park was decorated by the group. Twelve groups/churches/business put displays. Not bad for the first attempt. We also had Christmas carols and music groups at both courthouse and river park. The Bandera 4-H shotgun team took in over $1700 in donations. Next year we’re hoping more groups can participate.
The BCAG is trying to help the community and we hope it will grow.
Thanks to all who helped, Bandera 4H, Pipe Creek 4H and 4H parents, Boys & Girls club, Bandera Chamber of Commerce, Bandera CVB, BBA, Knights of Columbus, Bandera County Juvenile Probations ,and several churches. Bandera county for use of courthouse lawn, City of Bandera for use of City Park, the bucket truck and employees, Bandera EDC for lights and displays and, of course, Chip Aragones for the lights on the courthouse.
Also want to give a special thanks to The Dough Joe and Five Points for donated pizzas, and Partners Bank for bottles of drinking water.
Keep up the good work