Bill > S2159

This bill, titled "Improving outdoor lighting and increasing dark-sky visibility," aims to regulate the installation and operation of new permanent outdoor lighting fixtures that are funded by state money, with the goal of promoting energy efficiency, conserving energy, and reducing light pollution, which is the scattering of light in the atmosphere that hinders viewing the night sky. Key provisions include requiring that roadway and parking-lot lighting fixtures be "fully shielded," meaning they emit no direct light upwards, and that other building-mounted fixtures exceeding a certain brightness (3000 fixture lumens, a measure of light output) also be fully shielded. Façade lighting, which illuminates building exteriors, must be shielded to minimize glare, sky glow, and "light trespass," which is light falling beyond its intended area. Ornamental roadway lighting will have specific lumen limits, and all new fixtures must emit light with a "correlated color temperature" (a measure of the light's hue, with lower numbers being warmer and higher numbers cooler) no greater than 4000K. The bill also specifies that only the illuminance levels required for the intended purpose, as defined by recognized standards like the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) or local regulations, should be used. Several exceptions are outlined, including for temporary emergency lighting, aviation and nautical safety lights, athletic playing areas (with minimization of negative impacts), replacement of damaged fixtures, tunnel lighting, and special events, provided that these exceptions also minimize glare, light trespass, and sky glow. The Department of Energy Resources will develop regulations to enforce these requirements, and the Department of Transportation will study lighting costs and update criteria for roadway lighting. Additionally, the Department of Public Utilities will develop a rate for "part-night service," which is electricity provided for only part of the night, for outdoor lighting.