Bill > S2453

This bill, aimed at improving outdoor lighting and increasing dark-sky visibility, proposes new regulations for the use of state funds for permanent outdoor fixtures, which are permanent lighting installations intended for exterior use. Key provisions include requiring that roadway and parking-lot lighting, as well as building-mounted fixtures exceeding 3000 lumens, must be "fully shielded," meaning they emit no direct light above the horizontal plane of the fixture. Façade lighting, used to illuminate building exteriors, must be shielded to minimize glare, "sky glow" (scattered light that obscures the night sky), and "light trespass" (light falling beyond the intended property). Ornamental roadway lighting will have a limit on the amount of light emitted upwards, and all new fixtures will be restricted to a "correlated color temperature" (the apparent hue of the light) of no more than 4000 kelvins. The bill outlines several exceptions, such as for temporary emergency use, aviation safety, athletic fields (with minimization of negative impacts), and situations with a compelling safety or security need. The Department of Energy Resources will develop regulations to enforce these rules, and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation will report on roadway lighting costs and strategies for reduction. Additionally, the Department of Public Utilities will establish rates for "part-night service," which allows for unmetered electricity for lighting that operates only part of the night.