House passes Rep. April Connors’ light pollution mitigation bill

Today in Olympia, the Washington State House of Representatives passed Rep. April Connors' light pollution mitigation bill by a vote of 94-1.  

Wind turbines are equipped with blinking red lights as a safety measure for nearby aircraft traveling at night. While the lights serve an important safety function, they are also an eyesore for local residents and cause light pollution.  

House Bill 1173 would require the warning lights to turn on automatically only when needed by aircraft.    

“I greatly appreciate the bipartisan, near-unanimous support for this measure,” said Connors, R-Kennewick. “This bill is about preserving the beauty of our night sky.”

Under Connors' proposal, existing utility-scale wind energy facilities would have until Jan. 1, 2027 to comply with the new requirement.

The bill now heads to the Washington State Senate for further consideration.

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Washington State House Republican Communications
houserepublicans.wa.gov