Some Minnesota lawmakers want to see the stars shine in the city.

A bill sponsored by Minneapolis DFL Rep. Phyllis Kahn would mandate that all new streetlights in the state be equipped with a hood to cast light downward and prevent it from shining into the night sky, which sometimes prevents the visibility of stars and can waste energy.

At the University, many lights are already equipped with similar fixtures, said Tom Moran, senior electrical engineer for the University’s department of Energy Management.

“You do save some energy, but it’s more that you’re getting more of what you’re producing where you need it,” Moran said.

Streetlight hoods direct light in a certain area, which means a lower wattage bulb can be used, Moran said. That’s a big way to save energy, but he said even without changing the bulb “you get more for your money.”

While the larger issue is energy conservation, Moran said many raise questions about glare and inconvenient lighting.

“People will get upset because you have your window by the street, with light shining directly inside,” Moran said. “That’s really what got the ball rolling with … residents in cities.”

Advocates of similar legislation often term the issue a “dark sky campaign.”

Tucson, Ariz., is home to the International Dark-Sky Organization.

Lee Karalis, editor of the organization’s newsletter, said the mission of dark sky advocates is largely to protect the environment by curbing light that can disrupt habitats and have negative health consequences.

Studies indicate excessive light at night can affect the immune system and the ability to fight cancer, especially breast cancer, Karalis said.

But some of the most obvious implications are aesthetic and cultural, she said, such as when stars aren’t visible in a city.

“We tend to find some comfort in looking at the stars at night – it gives us perspective,” Karalis said.

But many critics argue that’s not a good enough reason, because it’s unfair to mandate cities to purchase more expensive lights without additional funding.

The Minneapolis City Council tabled a resolution to support the bill at a meeting of the Intergovernmental Relations Committee two weeks ago.

Committee chairwoman Betsy Hodges said council members were concerned about the issues behind the bill, such as conservation and light pollution, and wanted to look into the city’s policies first.

Hodges said it’s too early to tell if the council will develop a similar citywide ordinance.

Kahn said the Minnesota Department of Transportation raised concerns about highway lighting.

According to Kahn, highway officials are concerned they would have to purchase and install additional lights, creating more hazards for drivers.

The issue doesn’t have widespread popularity, but Kahn said the bill had its first hearing this year, and she’ll be happy if she can raise awareness.

After hearing about the issue through dark sky advocates, Kahn said the bill was amended to accommodate some of the criticism.

Among the changes: existing streetlights would be exempt from hood requirements, and only publicly funded new lights would qualify, she said.

“All light going up (in the sky) is wasted,” Kahn said.