Directs the secretary of state to prepare and distribute to cities, towns and villages a model comprehensive outdoor lighting ordinance

BILL NUMBER:S2594

Title of bill

An act to amend the general municipal law, in relation to the preparation and distribution of a model comprehensive outdoor lighting ordinance

Purpose

This bill encourages the management of outdoor night lighting to protect the nighttime environment, enhance safety and security, and conserve energy.

Summary of provisions

Section 1 adds a new section to the general municipal law, requiring the Secretary of State to prepare a model comprehensive outdoor lighting ordinance to be distributed to cities, towns and villages.

Justification

This bill is intended to limit excessive outdoor illumination. Excessive illumination wastes energy, intrudes on the privacy of others, creates glare which reduces the effect of lighting, deteriorates the natural nighttime environment, and reduces the ability for astronomical observation. Outdoor lighting is used to illuminate roadways, parking lots, yards, sidewalks, public meeting areas, signs, work sites and buildings. When well designed, it improves visibility, adds an element of safety and creates a sense of security, while at the same time minimizing energy use and operating costs. If, however, it is not well designed it can be costly, inefficient, counterproductive, and harmful to the nighttime environment.

Much of the outdoor lighting in use today wastes energy because it is poorly designed. This waste results in both higher costs for providing such lighting and increased pollution from the power plants that produce the wasted electricity. It is conservatively estimated that $3 to $4.5 billion a year is wasted in the United States in the unintended lighting of the sky rather than the streets, walkways, and outdoor public spaces which the light was intended to illuminate. In addition to wasting energy, poorly designed lighting often causes blinding glare. Glare occurs when you see light directly from a fixture or bulb. The glare from poorly designed or positioned lighting hampers the vision of drivers and pedestrians, reducing its effectiveness and creating a hazard rather than increasing safety. It shines onto neighboring properties and into nearby residences, reducing privacy, hindering sleep, and diminishing the beauty of the natural surroundings in areas far removed from the source of such lighting. A large portion of such lighting shines directly upward, creating the sky glow above population centers, adversely affecting the view of the night sky.

In addition to lowering the cost of outdoor lighting, limiting sky glow will allow future generations to enjoy the beauty of the stars, and to study and learn from or simply marvel at the wonders of the night sky.

Legislative history

2013-14: S.4225 Local Government/ A.994 Local Governments 2011-12: S.4189 Finance/A.7901 Local Governments

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.