‘Dark Sky Week’ deemed dangerous, fails in North Dakota Senate

(Jeff Beach – North Dakota Monitor) –

A resolution to encourage people to turn off at least some of the some of the lights in North Dakota failed to make it past the state Senate on Friday.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 4004 calling for North Dakota Dark Sky Week in April was voted down 29-17.

Sen. Tim Mathern, D-Fargo, proposed the resolution to educate people about light pollution and how dark skies can benefit migratory birds, save energy and improve human health. If the resolution had passed, participation would have been voluntary.

Sen. Todd Beard, R-Williston, voiced concerns about cities and businesses creating a safety hazard by turning off lights.

Sen. Justin Gerhardt, R-Mandan, said he was the only vote in committee in support of the resolution, noting that it specified only turning off unnecessary lights and that, as a father of four children, “if there was any way to get through to them to turn off the lights when they leave a room, I needed to encourage that.”