20.112 A Resolution in Support of An Act Improving Outdoor Lighting and Increasing Dark-Sky Visibility - Certified City of Northampton
MASSACHUSETTS
In the City Council, September 3, 2020
Upon the Recommendation of: Councilor Karen Foster
Councilor Alex Jarrett
Councilor Rachel Maiore
R-20.112
A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF “AN ACT IMPROVING OUTDOOR LIGHTING AND INCREASING
DARK-SKY VISIBILITY”
WHEREAS, More than two decades of scientific studies demonstrate a strong link
between excessive light at night and serious human health risks including
elevated rates of breast and prostate cancer, melatonin suppression, sleep
disruption, diabetes, obesity, and depression; and
WHEREAS, A 2016 report1 by the American Medical Association concludes that glare and
excessive light from LEDs at night, especially light bluer than 3000K CCT, are
harmful both to human health and wildlife; and
WHEREAS, The Federal Highway Administration states in a 2012 report 2 that “disability glare
is one of the most important elements to control in a lighting system. It affects
your ability to adequately see, particularly for older drivers”; and
WHEREAS, Virtually all species of animal studied scientifically including birds, mammals,
insects, amphibians, fish, and coral are negatively affected by light pollution; and
WHEREAS, The City of Northampton supports the development of foraging areas and
habitat for pollinating insects, which according to a 2017 scientific study3
make 62% fewer visits to flowers in the presence of light pollution; and
1 CSAPH Report 2-A-16
https://www.darksky.org/wp-content/uploads/bsk-pdf-manager/AMA_Report_2016_60.pdf
2 FHWA-SA-11-22
https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/roadway_dept/night_visib/lighting_handbook/
3 Knop et al 2017, Nature, 548, pp. 206–209
https://www.nature.com/articles/nature23288
WHEREAS, An estimated 100 million to 1 billion birds die in the US every year due to light
pollution, according to a 2019 scientific study4; and
WHEREAS, Light pollution causes the night sky to be at least 6-10 times brighter than
naturally dark skies in the City of Northampton, and as much as 50 times brighter
in some other parts of Massachusetts; and
WHEREAS, Light pollution, as measured in a 2017 scientific study,5 is growing worse at
2% per year globally and up to 10% per year in some parts of Massachusetts,
many times faster than population growth; and
WHEREAS, Light pollution represents wasted energy and resources, since light that
shines into the sky or is brighter than needed provides no benefit; and
WHEREAS, The City of Northampton is committed to reducing greenhouse gas
emissions as demonstrated by its Sustainable Northampton Comprehensive Plan,
its Office of Planning and Sustainability, its Energy and Sustainability
Commission, and its 5-STAR Community Rating, and has written Dark Skies
standards into municipal building codes; and
WHEREAS, Curbing light pollution at night by installing only well-shielded, appropriately
bright, warm-colored lighting will cost cities and towns of Massachusetts no
more than installing poorly shielded, excessively bright and blue lighting, and will
use less electrical power; and
WHEREAS, The starry sky and the Milky Way have led countless generations to
ponder profound questions about the Universe, to incorporate planets, sun, and
moon into their religions, and to create innumerable works of art and literature,
and the ability to see a naturally dark starry sky is a human right espoused by the
US National Park Service, the International Dark-Sky Association, the United
Nations, and other national and world organizations; and
WHEREAS, The identical bills H.2858 and S.1937, “An Act improving outdoor lighting and
4 Loss et al 2014, The Condor, Vol. 116, Issue 1, pp. 8–23
https://doi.org/10.1650/CONDOR-13-090.1
5 Kyba et al 2017, Science Advances, Vol. 3, no. 11
https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/3/11/e1701528