EASTON, Pa. – Easton City Council received a presentation from the Easton Environmental Advisory Council supporting a “dark skies” ordinance.
The legislation’s purpose is to reduce light pollution by regulating outdoor lighting.
Nick Gorski, chair of the environmental advisory council, said an ordinance would reduce the city’s costs, improve the public’s health and provide environmental benefits without sacrificing safety.
Light shining late at night is bad for humans and animals alike, Gorski said. He added that the dark skies initiative is not about completely eliminating lights, but it focuses on using lights “intelligently and strategically” throughout the city.
A proposed ordinance could impose limits on brightness and color temperature and utilize LED fixtures to reduce energy use and cost. Dimmers and timers could also be targeted to reduce lighting when full illumination is not needed.
Gorski also described how shielded lights can help to focus brightness downward rather than out and to the sides.
A burning question in Easton on Wednesday night: When does bright become too bright? 69 News reporter Amelia Sack gathered reactions from residents and city officials about the change.
Councilmember Crystal Rose said the presentation was timely, as residents have recently complained about the brightness of new LED streetlights installed by Met-Ed.
Brandon Sullivan, Easton’s sustainability coordinator, said Met-Ed initially installed 28 LED lights in the area of Second and Spring Garden streets, and there had been miscommunication about when those installations would begin. Sullivan said Met-Ed would be replacing those 400 wattage lights with 260 wattage lights to address the brightness issue.
Mayor Sal Panto said he liked aspects of the proposal and it’s “on the right track,” but he wants to ensure streets are still lit well to prevent crime.