The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) today praised New York Governor Cuomo for signing into law the Dark Skies bill, which establishes requirements for outdoor lighting applications installed by state agencies. Specifically, the bill requires the use of properly shielded light fixtures to prevent unnecessary up- and side-lighting, thereby reducing sky glow. The bill also limits lighting to only recommended levels for particular applications.     

"We wish to commend the leadership provided by the two authors of this legislation, New York Assembly member Linda Rosenthal and Senator Carl Marcellino. This model legislation is an excellent example of how private stakeholders and our elected leaders can work together to address an issue through legislation," said NEMA President and CEO Kevin J. Cosgriff.

NEMA is a leader on this issue and worked for several years with a coalition of the nation's major industry and advocacy groups that are concerned with quality lighting in the U.S., including the International Association of Lighting Designers, Illuminating Engineering Society, and International Dark-Sky Association, all of whom played a significant role in passing this legislation. The coalition worked with assembly members and the senate to develop this model legislation, which addresses challenges in a comprehensive manner while still following the principles and practice of good lighting design and application.

​NEMA is the association of electrical equipment and medical imaging manufacturers, founded in 1926 and headquartered in Rosslyn, Virginia. Its nearly 400 member companies manufacture a diverse set of products including power transmission and distribution equipment, lighting systems, factory automation and control systems, and medical diagnostic imaging systems. Total U.S. shipments for electroindustry products exceed $100 billion annually.