Maine switches the lights off for conservation

Artificial lighting can produce demonstrable effects on the behavior and population ecology of wildlife like birds and insects. Maine passed a bill to protect the night skies and wildlife from the effects of light pollution. The bill, “An Act to Promote Responsible Outdoor Lighting,” only affects publicly funded lighting, such as streetlights and those at schools or town offices. It requires that new or replacement outdoor lights meet responsible lighting standards developed by the Illuminating Engineering Society and supported by DarkSky International. Maine is also home to two areas that DarkSky recognizes: Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, which attract tourists during astronomical events, such as solar eclipses and the Northern Lights. Maine seeks to keep the lights turned off to protect ecotourism in the region. The bill includes exclusions for lights that must meet federal lighting requirements, outdoor sports lights, emergency lights and highway lighting.

Read more in “An Act to Promote Responsible Outdoor Lighting.”