South
Hail cripples massive solar farm, sparking resident concern about vulnerable 'green' tech
An onslaught of hail in southeastern Texas that destroyed large portions of a massive solar farm is highlighting the perils of trading traditional power sources for vulnerable “green” alternatives and sparking concern about the potential for chemical leaks from the broken panels.
Aerial footage captured the significant damage suffered by the Fighting Jays Solar farm in Fort Bend County, Texas. The March 15 storm shattered hundreds of panels and prompted a nearby resident to question if the solar panels were leaking chemicals such as cadmium telluride, which is linked to serious health risks in humans.
“My concern is the hail damage that came through and busted these panels – we now have some highly toxic chemicals that could be potentially leaking into our water tables,” Needville resident Nick Kaminski told Fox affiliate KRIV-TV. “I have a family — two children and a wife. My neighbors have kids and a lot of other residents in the area who are on well water are concerned that the chemicals are now leaking into our water tables.”
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Images captured by Fox affiliate FOX26 Houston KRIV show extensive damage to Fighting Jays Solar in Fort Bend County, Texas. (FOX26 Houston KRIV)
The Fort Bend County Environmental Health Department is investigating the incident and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has also been contacted regarding any potential chemical contamination, Needville Mayor Chad Nesvadba told Fox News Digital. Fort Bend County officials didn’t respond to multiple requests for comment.
Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, represents the community surrounding the solar farm and is engaged with those whose homes, businesses and property were destroyed by the storm, according to spokesperson Emily Matthews, who noted the incident underscores the importance of an “all-of-the-above” approach to energy policy.
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“As far as solar farms being damaged where hail and tornadoes are common, those companies knowingly run the risk of building solar panel farms in these areas,” Matthews told Fox News Digital. “Events like this underscore the importance of having an all-of-the-above energy approach to meet our energy needs and showcase how our country cannot solely rely on or fully transition to renewable energy sources like this.”
Denmark-based Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, the parent company of the Fighting Jays Solar project’s developer, AP Solar Holdings, confirmed the storm had taken out much of the farm, but there was currently no risk to the nearby community of chemical exposure.
Local resident Nick Kaminski is interviewed by Fox affiliate FOX26 Houston KRIV. (FOX26 Houston KRIV)
“On March 15th, a hailstorm caused solar panel damage to Fighting Jays Solar, a 350 MW project located in Fort Bend County, Texas,” CIP told Fox News Digital in a statement. “We are currently assessing the extent of the impact of the storm on the generation of the project, while the plant continues to safely operate at a reduced capacity.”
It added: “The silicon-based panels contain no cadmium telluride and we have identified no risk to the local community or the environment.”
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The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which oversees the state’s power grid, said it was aware of the situation, but had not identified any grid reliability concerns. The Texas Public Utilities Commission added that it has yet to receive any reports about the incident.
Still, Daniel Turner, the executive director of energy watchdog group Power the Future, said the storm’s impact could foreshadow future threats to the U.S. power grid if the nation transitions to a heavy reliance on solar energy.
Rep. Troy Nehls, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials, appears during a hearing on June 6, 2023. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
“There’s this enormous shell game happening by the Biden administration, by the environmental left, presenting wind and solar as perfectly green, clean, and carbon-neutral,” Turner told Fox News Digital. “They use all of these buzzwords. But they’re none of that and they also have enormous drawbacks. And it’s doing the American people a great disservice to obfuscate these very obvious shortcomings.”
He noted that, because solar panels are largely manufactured in China, the destruction of solar farms could be leveraged in geopolitical disputes between the U.S. and China.
“Why would we expect them to race to our aid when our grid is down nationwide, and they are the ones holding the goods that we need to get back up?” Turner said.
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Fighting Jays Solar came online in July 2022 and spans more than 3,000 acres, according to AP Solar Holdings. It is located about 40 miles from downtown Houston.
The destruction of the project, meanwhile, comes as the nation broadly races to replace existing fossil fuel power with green energy alternatives. But those plans have been criticized by experts who warn of those energy sources’ reliance on certain windy and sunny weather conditions.
Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29
John Cropp Stadium
570 Wildcat Court
Lexington, KY 40506
‘til the Battle is Won
On a campus where basketball reigns supreme and the reach of “Big Blue Nation” touches nearly every corner of athletics, softball has still carved out a loyal following of its own at the University of Kentucky. The Wildcats first took the field in 1997 under founding head coach John Cropp, who built the program from the ground up and guided it through the 2018 season. During his tenure Kentucky developed into a consistent NCAA Tournament contender in the SEC, making multiple NCAA Regional and Super Regional appearances, while also reaching the Women’s College World Series for the first time in program history in 2014.
When Kentucky opened its new softball facility in 2013, the venue was named John Cropp Stadium in recognition of his role in establishing and growing the Wildcats softball program into a nationally respected one.
Food & Beverage 3
Concessions at John Cropp Stadium are fairly standard and lack much creativity, offering the usual ballpark staples such as hot dogs, pizza, chicken tender baskets, and fries. A small collection of snacks including soft pretzels, popcorn, peanuts, and Cracker Jack rounds out the permanent menu.
What helps elevate the experience a bit are the food trucks parked beyond the right field corner. These rotating vendors provide more specialized options than the main stands, but also expand the dessert offerings with frozen lemonade, cotton candy, and Dippin’ Dots.
Soft drinks come from the Coca-Cola family of beverages, while beer and seltzers are available throughout the stadium, though the alcohol selection mostly sticks to familiar domestic choices.
Atmosphere 3
John Cropp Stadium blends Kentucky blue and gray with steel and aluminum accents to create a clean, modern appearance that mirrors the overall design used throughout Barnhart Athletic Complex.
The main grandstand stretches from one cut of the outfield grass to the other, and features three central sections of chairback seating behind home plate, flanked by aluminum bleachers down each line. Beyond the outfield fence a terraced berm wraps from the right field foul pole into center field, giving fans another relaxed viewing option.
A large videoboard in left field displays virtually every piece of information a fan could want during a game, including batting averages, detailed hitter and pitcher statistics, pitch speed, inning-by-inning scoring, and ball-strike-out counts. Smaller scoreboards mounted to the press box provide additional inning and score information throughout the game.
Music clips and sound effects are used heavily during play, sometimes becoming a bit repetitive in the later innings, though the overall presentation is not much different than what is commonly found at a Minor League Baseball game. Between innings, the entertainment shifts to scoreboard features and occasional on-field contests.
Neighborhood 4
John Cropp Stadium sits within Barnhart Family Athletic Complex, alongside Kentucky Proud Park and the Wendell & Vickie Bell Soccer Complex on the southern edge of campus. The complex borders residential neighborhoods and sits across the street from the State Arboretum of Kentucky.
Elsewhere around Lexington, there is no shortage of sports and cultural attractions. The spring sports calendar overlaps with the schedule of Lexington SC of the USL Championship soccer season, while summer baseball brings the Lexington Legends into action. Visitors can also explore Kentucky Horse Park, tour the Mary Todd Lincoln House, or visit Rupp Arena in downtown Lexington. Bourbon tourism is also prominent, with the Distillery District featuring names such as James E. Pepper Distillery and Wild Turkey.
Dining options around the city are plentiful as well. Local favorites include Tolly-Ho, Joe Bologna’s, Wallace Station, and Bourbon n’ Toulouse.
Fans 3
Big Blue Nation supports Kentucky softball well, though the atmosphere can occasionally feel a bit reserved. Visiting fan bases with larger traveling contingents can sometimes create more noise than the home crowd itself.
The Wildcats generally draw around 1,000 fans per game, with SEC conference series typically pushing attendance numbers a bit higher.
Access 3
Lexington sits directly along Interstate 75, making the city relatively easy to reach from places such as Knoxville and Cincinnati. Even so, the University of Kentucky campus remains roughly 20 minutes from the interstate, and the drive into campus follows busy city thoroughfares that are prone to congestion and lengthy stoplights.
Once at Barnhart Family Complex, parking is available near John Cropp Stadium, though many fans use the lots along College Way and walk a short distance to the gates. Entry into the facility flows through a spacious plaza area that helps alleviate congestion before games, although rivalry matchups can still create lengthy lines prior to first pitch.
Inside the ballpark, concourses are wide enough to move comfortably, and the exterior walkway behind the seating bowl offers the easiest route to most sections. Access along the third base side is somewhat restricted, though it does not significantly impact seating access. During games with larger crowds, concession lines can spill out into the exterior concourse and create occasional bottlenecks.
Return on Investment 4
General admission tickets for conference games run around $14, while non-conference game tickets cost closer to $11. Reserved seating starts at approximately $17. Pricing feels fair overall, though it does stand out slightly in a conference where several programs still offer free admission.
Concession pricing falls in line with what would be expected at a major college sporting event, and combo meals can save fans a small amount on larger orders.
Extras 3
The plaza area outside the seating bowl includes several activities geared toward younger Wildcats fans, including inflatables, face painting, and craft stations.
Kentucky’s mascots “The Wildcat” and the younger “Scratch” make regular appearances throughout games, frequently walking the concourse, interacting with fans, and posing for photos.
The outfield wall also highlights Kentucky softball’s postseason accomplishments, including appearances in the NCAA Regionals, Super Regionals, and the Women’s College World Series.
Final Thoughts
As with most of the athletic programs at the University of Kentucky, softball takes a backseat to the love of basketball, but the latter is still a highly supported program that offers a highly fan-friendly and entertaining experience for attendees. John Cropp Stadium also provides multiple seating options, from traditional stadium seating to drink rails along the upper-level walkways, as well as tiered grassy seating in the outfield. The venue even allows visiting fans access to their own bullpen, which is a nice plus.
When Wesley Franatovich settles into a church pew for the Latin Mass at St. Patrick’s Church in New Orleans, he feels a sense of calm wash over him.
There’s ritual and mystery and choreography, and in that, Franatovich said, “there’s comfort.”
“And I think people are looking for a sense of comfort these days,” Franatovich, a 29-year-old New Orleans real estate agent and longtime Roman Catholic, said Mass at the church. “A lot of people are searching for things that ground them in a way — a lot of people see that in the Latin Mass.” There’s a reverence about it.”
Franatovich said a favorite moment comes when the congregation, together with the priest, sings the Nicene Creed in Latin: Credo in unum Deum …
“It’s powerful,” he said.
The Latin Mass has been in the news lately, following Pope Leo XIV’s escalated warnings to the Society of St. Pius X that its planned consecration of bishops without papal consent is a schismatic act. The group was formed in 1970 in opposition to the Roman Catholic Church reforms of the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s and largely broke with Rome in 1988.
One of the group’s hallmarks is its adherence to the Latin Mass.
But in south Louisiana, where the Latin Mass has enjoyed a growing following in recent years, and where the various dioceses have allowed it with some restrictions, the controversy surrounding the practice is muted.
“For those who are devotees, the traditional Mass is not a controversial thing,” said the Rev. Brent Maher, pastor of St. Agnes Catholic Church in Baton Rouge.
“Vatican II brought change,” he said. Many people appreciated it, he added, but some did not.
Maher said St. Agnes, which offers Latin Mass on Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings and is the lone church in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge authorized to do so, often draws 250 people or more.
“We have a good mix of people, but a large number of them are young families,” Maher said.
Also called the Tridentine Mass, Latin Mass became increasingly rare following the reforms of the Second Vatican Council. Among the most notable differences between Latin Masses and contemporary Masses is that the priest spends much of his time with his back to the worshippers and, of course, most of the Mass is said in Latin.
Pope Francis reimposed restrictions in 2021, concerned that the growing use of Latin Mass might divide the Church.
Those restrictions spelled out when priests must use the vernacular, or the common language of the place where the Mass is being said, and allowed bishops to decide whether and where to have Latin Masses in their dioceses.
But many Catholics, particularly traditionalists, find comfort in the rituals, motions and language used in the Latin Mass.
“It’s important to recognize the complexity,” said Tom Ryan, chaplain of Loyola University in New Orleans, who is also a professor of theology and ministry. “The beauty is the Latin. There’s tradition in Latin. Latin can also be a unifying source.”
Ryan also said that residents of New Orleans and south Louisiana often hold tighter to traditions, religious traditions among them.
“I do think Catholicism here is a bit more traditional than other places,” he said.
On the other side, Ryan said, some might use the Latin Mass as a way to separate themselves from others in the church or to suggest that it somehow holds a deeper meaning. Also, he added, “the appeal can be limited. There’s only so many people who will do what it takes for the effort to understand it.”
Maher, meanwhile, said the theological issues between the Vatican and the Society of St. Pius X go much deeper than the Latin Mass. Ryan agreed and added that it’s likely a broader issue of power.
There are a few Society of St. Pius X-affiliated churches in the region, but efforts to contact them for comment were not successful.
An Archdiocese of New Orleans spokesperson, Sarah McDonald, said new Archbishop James Checchio has not issued any formal statements on the Latin Mass, which a small number of archdiocesan churches offer. The Latin Masses the archdiocese recognizes are not those affiliated with the Society of St. Pius X, McDonald noted.
Checchio was scheduled to attend a Latin Mass on Sunday at Our Lady of Mount Carmel near Covington.
‘Each little gesture’
Our Lady of Mount Carmel’s Latin Mass services have grown in popularity in recent years. The church’s pastor, the Rev. Damien Zablocki, was not available for comment for this story.
Inside St. Patrick’s, a Gothic-style church built on Camp Street in New Orleans in 1840 as a place for Irish immigrants to worship in splendor and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1975, snippets of the Rev. Garrett O’Brien’s Latin words floated over the pews early Wednesday morning.
Around 25 people attended. Most appeared to be middle-aged or older; many of the women wore chapel veils covering their hair. The weekday Masses are usually faster, with less singing, than the High Latin Mass offered on Sundays.
O’Brien declined to talk to a reporter following the Mass, saying that he thought any comments regarding the Latin Mass should come from the archdiocese.
Maher, 41, recalls the first time he attended a Latin Mass. The Denham Springs native was 20 at the time and in the seminary. He said he tagged along with a friend who asked him to help serve at the Mass.
“I walked out and said, ‘What in the world was that?’” he recalled. “It was very, very different.”
But he embraced it and now loves saying Latin Mass.
“Each little gesture has a value and a purpose and a meaning. There’s a lot of chanting — it’s part of the obligation,” he said. “And your Latin has to be up to snuff.”
Franatovich said it’s often easy to spot first-timers sitting in the pews of a Latin Mass.
“It’s so interesting to watch them,” he said, adding that the reactions are often a mix, with some seeming to enjoy it and others not so much.
It’s not for everyone, he says.
“You’re less focused on the words, and more on the actions and motions, I think,” Franatovich said.
This story includes reporting from The Associated Press.
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