Efficient lighting effort gains steam

As state legislative sessions comes to a close in state capitals across the country, this week brought a flurry of action on the effort to phase out inefficient fluorescent lightbulbs with ones that are more efficient and nontoxic.

In Rhode Island, lawmakers in both chambers voted unanimously to phase out fluorescent lighting in favor of more efficient and nontoxic LED light bulbs. The legislation now heads to the desk of Gov. Daniel McKee. Meanwhile, lawmakers in Maine and Oregon are expected to take up clean lighting legislation today. In Massachusetts, lawmakers have scheduled a hearing for July 19th.

“Across the country, state leaders recognize that we have lighting options that waste less energy,” said Johanna Neumann, Senior Director of the Campaign for 100% Renewable Energy. “Advances in technology make it possible to put toxic inefficient lighting in the rear-view mirror.”

So far in 2023, Colorado has enacted the policy and in Hawaii, the bill is awaiting the governor’s signature. California and Vermont were the first states to act on clean lighting at the state level in 2022.