BILL NUMBER:S4225

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the general municipal law, in relation
to the preparation and distribution of a model comprehensive outdoor
lighting ordinance

PURPOSE: This bill encourages the management of outdoor night lighting
to protect the nighttime environment, enhance safety and security, and
conserve energy.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 adds a new section to the general municipal law, requiring
the Secretary of State to prepare a model comprehensive outdoor
lighting ordinance to be distributed to cities, towns and villages.

JUSTIFICATION: This bill is intended to limit excessive outdoor
illumination. Excessive illumination wastes energy, intrudes on the
privacy of others, creates glare which reduces the effect of lighting,
deteriorates the natural nighttime environment, and reduces the
ability for astronomical observation. Outdoor lighting is used to
illuminate roadways, parking lots, yards, sidewalks, public meeting
areas, signs, work sites and buildings. When well designed, it
improves visibility, adds an element of safety and creates a sense of
security, while at the same time minimizing energy use and operating
costs. If, however, it is not well designed it can be costly,
              

inefficient, counterproductive, and harmful to the nighttime
environment.

Much of the outdoor lighting in use today wastes energy because it is
poorly designed. This waste results in both higher costs for providing
such lighting and increased pollution from the power plants that
produce the wasted electricity. It is conservatively estimated that $3
to $4.5 billion a year is wasted in the United States in the
unintended lighting of the sky rather than the streets, walkways, and
outdoor public spaces which the light was intended to illuminate. In
addition to wasting energy, poorly designed lighting often causes
blinding glare. Glare occurs when you see light directly from a
fixture or bulb. The glare from poorly designed or positioned lighting
hampers the vision of drivers and pedestrians, reducing its
effectiveness and creating a hazard rather than increasing safety. It
shines onto neighboring properties and into nearby residences,
reducing privacy, hindering sleep, and diminishing the beauty of the
natural surroundings in areas far removed from the source of such
lighting. A large portion of such lighting shines directly upward,
creating the sky glow above population centers, adversely affecting
the view of the night sky.

In addition to lowering the cost of outdoor lighting, limiting sky
glow will allow future generations to enjoy the beauty of the stars,
and to study and learn from or simply marvel at the wonders of the
night sky.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:  2011-12: S. 4189 Finance/A. 7901 Local
Governments


FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: None.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This act shall take effect immediately.