A new state law would require outdoor lighting across Maine to be dimmed at night in an effort to protect the state's wildlife and dark skies.
Maine Audubon's Director of Advocacy Francesca Gundrum said the measure helps protect Maine's dark night skies from increasing development.
"Darkness is a natural resource just like land, just like water and it is absolutely deserving of conservation," Gundrum said. "And the only way you conserve it is if you take steps to regulate, in particular, outdoor light pollution."
The bill only affects publicly funded lighting, like streetlights or lights on schools or town offices. It requires that new or replacement outdoor lights have to meet certain standards developed by the Illuminating Engineering Society.
"So think warmer lights versus cooler lights, shielded lights, lights on timers. So those are things that save money, save energy of course and from our perspective, save wildlife," Gundrum said.
The bill includes exceptions for outdoor sports lighting, temporary and emergency lights, lighting for highways and sidewalks and when federal regulations require certain lighting levels.
Supporters of the bill including astronomers and environmental groups argued that too much artificial light could disturb wildlife and disrupt the ecosystem. Cutting unnecessary outdoor light could also preserve Maine's dark, star-filled skies for visitors and residents alike, supporters contended.
Maine Rep. Laurie Osher, an Orono Democrat who sponsored the bill, said even though it only pertains to public lighting, the new law may provide guidance for private owners interested in limiting their own light pollution.
Osher said many people incorrectly assume that brighter lights are safer, but studies indicate it's harder for humans to see when they move from a dark place to a brightly lit one.
"To have it be too bright is not just for dark skies to see the stars. It's not just for the nocturnal animals whose biorhythms are interrupted by having it feel to them like daylight because of the brightness," Osher said. "It's also because the exact reason people light is for safety, and it's less safe to be too bright."
The bill is one of dozens held over from last year that Maine Gov. Janet Mills said would become law without her signature.
