Portsmouth Neighborhood Wins Light Pollution Battle with Tiverton Boatyard

A neighborhood in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, was celebrating Wednesday night after winning a two-year battle with a Tiverton boatyard.

Residents on Cliff Ave in Portsmouth had been complaining to the boatyard for two years after extremely bright LED lights were installed on a structure.

The lights were pointed across the Sakonnet River and lit up 18 homes on Cliff Ave as if it were midday, according to the homeowners.

Complaints fell on deaf ears at the Safe Harbor Sakonnet boatyard until the neighborhood decided to take their story to Fun 107. Less than 24 hours after publishing an article, there was a response to the neighbors and the lights were finally shut off.

READ MORE: Portsmouth Neighborhood Lit Up Over Light Pollution from Tiverton

Lee McGaw has lived in her Cliff Avenue home since 1957.

"They saw your article," said the 90-year-old woman. "I got a call from Joe Palmieri yesterday, the general manager of Safe Harbor Sakonnet, and he was very, very nice. He said they were turning off the lights temporarily until they could find a solution – and for the first time in years, the lights weren't on last night."

McGaw said she and some other neighbors toasted to the darkness.

Neighbors' Reactions

Joyce Brennan and her husband Peter were also ecstatic about the news that the lights were being shut off.

"We were incredibly surprised," Brennan said. "We never expected that it would be taken care of so quickly. The fact is that light pollution and marine illumination are very serious and very real issues."

Safe Harbor Sakonnet said they are reviewing different options that will help light the boatyard without disturbing the homes across the river.

"He said if they make changes and the lights bother us again to let them know and they will take care of it. They'll look for something else," McGaw said.

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For now, they are happily toasting by the starlight in Portsmouth.

"We're just relieved we didn't have to start collecting signatures on a petition and filing complaints with the Town of Tiverton," she said. "We are so happy."