The town of West Windsor has dared to imagine a community returned to a different time. Before streetlights blazed through the night and the fluorescent hue of stores and offices beamed into the wee hours of the morning, the world once knew darkness. True darkness. Devoid of light pollution.
From April 13-20, West Windsor plans to have the opportunity to experience a star-filled sky unobstructed by artificial light.
On Monday, March 23, the West Windsor Selectboard voted and adopted a proclamation, showing their support for their Sustainability Committee’s “Dark Sky Week” initiative, with two board members voting in favor, one abstaining.
Susan Yost, chairperson of the committee, presented a proclamation to the board, which read, “The aesthetic beauty and wonder of the natural night sky is part of the shared heritage of all humankind. The experience [of] standing under a starry night sky inspires feelings of wonder and awe. It encourages an interest in science and nature, particularly among children.
“Light pollution is scientifically established, [with documented] economic and environmental consequences which result in significant impacts on the ecology and human health of all communities…80% of the world’s population, including many people in Vermont, live under a dome of light pollution. Excessive artificial lighting at night disrupts natural darkness and may [keep us from experiencing] the visual wonder or ecological health benefits of living under a dark sky.
“Light pollution represents a waste of natural resources, amounting to roughly $3 billion per year of wasted energy in the United States, and contributes to diminished security. West Windsor is home to dozens of nocturnal wildlife species, including the endangered little brown bat, wood frogs, peepers, yellow spotted salamanders, frogs, fireflies and pollinating moths. These species rely on undisturbed night environments to hunt, mate and thrive.”
Following a reading of the proclamation, the selectboard voted to adopt the initiative, which recognizes International Dark Sky Week as a means of raising awareness of the effects of light pollution, providing free educational resources and solutions to the public, and protecting the dark skies and those who rely on them most.
Vice chair Mark Harley raised concerns, stating that he was in favor of the ecological aspects of Dark Sky Week, but out of respect for the safety concerns that accompany limiting light in town at night, he chose to abstain from signing the proclamation.
“If West Windsor decided, for instance, to turn off every other streetlight and some kid went shooting across the street, not looking carefully both ways, and was struck and killed by a car — that would be a huge tragedy. You know, something as simple as that could happen, even with the best intentions,” Harley said.
Regarding this point, Yost told the Standard, “We’re not advocating that people turn off necessary lighting. Safety is definitely something that is foremost in our minds. But there are ways to mitigate bad lighting situations. Motion sensors are a great idea. Even warm lighting is better for the environment. The human eye is not made to endure bright, harsh lights, nor is our environment. We hope Dark Sky Week serves as an educational opportunity for those in our town, as well as a way to take a breath, stare up at the sky, and see the stars in a new light.”
For more on this, please see our April 2 edition of the Vermont Standard.
