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www.petespaint.ca Vol. 11, Issue 46
Wednesday, December 16, 2020
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A Leamington-based greenhouse operation brightens the night sky on Sunday, December 13, 2020. Sun photo
Dark skies to prevail in Leamington By Mark Ribble LEAMINGTON — The much-debated greenhouse light abatement by-law has passed in Leamington, effectively putting an end to brightly lit night-time skies in the municipality, once greenhouse operators comply. Leamington council debated for about two hours last Tuesday before passing the bylaw, requiring greenhouse operations to create a dark sky by either shutting off their lights or installing sidewall, endwall and ceiling blackout curtains. After public consultation — which saw 1293 responses — the vast majority supporting the bylaw, council heard delegations and then set out to pass the recommended bylaw. The Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers, represented by Dr. Justine Taylor, Joseph Sbrocchi and Niki Bennett, were there to represent greenhouse vegetable growers. They
asked for a bylaw allowing 15 per cent of the light to escape into the night sky. No representatives from the cannabis industry came forward to speak to council. Leamington Mayor Hilda MacDonald pulled no punches when it came to how some greenhouse operators have aimed criticism at council for the delay in controlling this issue. “It’s been said that we dropped the ball,” she said. “We did not drop the ball. We’ve been engaged with OGVG and the Harrow Research Station on this. The industry didn’t even bother to bend over to pick up that ball.” The bylaw comes into effect on January 1, 2021. Greenhouse operators will be required to ensure that blackout curtains on greenhouse sidewalls and endwalls will be closed from one hour before sunset to one hour after sunrise. Further to that, the ceiling curtains will
be closed from one hour before sunset to one hour after sunrise, except between the hours of 2 am and 6 am, when they will be allowed to be opened by 10 per cent for venting purposes. Although the bylaw takes effect on January 1, greenhouses not already equipped, will have until April 1 to install sidewall and endwall curtains and until October 1 to install ceiling curtains. It has been noted that, during the pandemic, it has been difficult to procure the curtains and the professionals required to install them. As of January 1, however, the bylaw requires that greenhouses that utilize lights, shall ensure that the lights are completely turned off between 8 pm and 2 am. This means, that on New Year’s Day at SEE ‘DARK SKIES’ - Page 2
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