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Leamington seeks information from growers and public on light pollution

One day after Kingsville’s town council unanimously approved a bylaw to stop light pollution from greenhouses and odours from cannabis production, Leamington’s council voted unanimously to seek more information from growers and the public before considering a light pollution bylaw.

Kingsville’s bylaw stipulates that light from cultivating plants cannot shine on neighbouring properties or into the sky at night, causing “a nuisance,” and includes fines of up to $5,000 for individuals and $50,000 for corporations for a first offence and double that for subsequent offences.

Growers want to be “good neighbours,” said Justine Taylor of the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers. But, she said, “we do not believe 100 per cent abatement is possible.” When the temperature outside is still warm in the fall, and a greenhouse is sealed with blackout curtains, it becomes too hot inside for the plants, she said. The greenhouse then needs to be vented. Research is being conducted into how to safely block all the light, she said. | READ MORE