Dark Sky Ordinances for Albuquerque

Albuquerque is considering passing an ordinance that would control light-outdoor lights, that is. The ordinance would clamp down "light trespass" making it illegal for people to have outdoor lights stronger than 75 watts unless they are fully shielded so the light doesn't reach other's homes. The ordinance will also make residents remove all mercury vapor lights from their property in a year and replace all city mercury vapor streetlights within three years.

Albuquerque has 6,000 mercury vapor street lights, which need retrofitting to lower wattage. That will save the city $160,000 a year in energy costs. The city will also have to shield its 16,000 high-pressure sodium streetlights so they don't spread light pollution into the sky. That is estimated to cost about $454,000 and take about seven years to accomplish.

The ordinance may also affect businesses, which will be required to turn off outdoor lighting by 11 p.m., or when they close.

Dark sky ordinances, such as the one proposed for the city, are becoming a trend throughout the Southwest. Mexico, Arizona and Utah. If it passes review by the Environmental Planning Commission, If passed and signed, the legislation could conceivably go into effect by March.