Cross lighting wastes energy

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

This letter appeared in the Advocate (Baton Rouge, Louisiana) on 17 September 2004.

This item may be cited as M. R. Franks, Letter to the Editor: Cross lighting wastes energy, Baton Rouge Advocate, September 17, 2004, at 10B.

Dear Editor:

Evidently, Bethany World Prayer Center does not want Baton Rougeans admiring God's handiwork, for the 40,000 wasteful watts of precious energy that it beams skyward seriously impair professional and amateur astronomers and ordinary citizens alike from admiring one of God's most beautiful creations - the heavens. I refer, of course, to the three huge crosses Bethany recently erected near Interstate 10 and Siegen Lane. The wattage consumed, of course, must be generated somewhere, diminishing our dwindling supply of fossil fuels and contributing to air pollution as well.

As a licensed pilot, I have concerns that these bright lights beamed skyward may also constitute a hazard to aviation.

Won't it be nice when Bethany finds a better and less wasteful way to illuminate its crosses - say, white neon tubes under frosted Plexiglas affixed to the crosses themselves? This would save Bethany's members thousands of hard-earned dollars on each month's electric bill - dollars better used in other ways to do God's work. The church would conserve energy and the crosses would serve their intended purpose, all without contributing to light pollution and air pollution.

Those interested in learning more about light pollution should visit the Web site http://www.darksky.org. I especially commend that site to Pastor Larry Stockstill.

M. R. Franks
2 Swan St.
Baton Rouge

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