74°F
weather icon Windy

City awarded $1.9M to protect dark skies

Starry, starry nights in Boulder City will soon be easier to see.

The city was awarded nearly $2 million from the U.S. Economic Development Administration to retrofit all municipal lights with light-pollution-reducing fixtures.

On Tuesday, Sept. 20, the city announced it received a $1.9 million grant from the EDA to retrofit 2,560 light fixtures, which also will be more energy efficient and help lower greenhouse gas emissions.

“I am beyond happy to see Boulder City has been awarded this grant,” said Councilman James Howard Adams, who formally proposed the project to council. “With it, we will be able to improve the health and safety of our community, while also providing economic benefit to our local businesses.”

The retrofitting project is expected to begin in 2023 and will help the city achieve its goal of obtaining Dark Skies Community Certification from the International Dark Skies Association. The IDA grants certification to towns or cities that it deems have shown “exceptional” dedication to night sky preservation, according to the association’s website.

In June, the city was selected by the Nevada Division of Outdoor Recreation to be a pilot location in the Dark Skies program.

“I’m thrilled to see Nevada receive federal funding that will help local communities retrofit their lightning in order to allow for better viewing of our world-class night skies,” said Nevada Lt. Gov. Lisa Cano Burkhead. “As chair of the advisory board on outdoor recreation, I’ll take every chance I can to encourage everyone to get outside and explore our beautiful state, and this helps locals and tourists do just that.”

“This project will enhance opportunities for stargazing and night sky-viewing in Boulder City, supporting tourism-related businesses in the area,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo.

The grant will be matched with $617,898 in state and local funds to pay for the installation of the dimmable fixtures and is expected to create 21 new jobs, according to the EDA. The administration estimates that this project will generate $400,000 in private investment.

The grant is funded by the EDA’s Travel, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation program under the American Rescue Plan Act.

Contact Mark Credico at mcredico@reviewjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @MarkCredicoII.

Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook.
THE LATEST
Council candidate slate set

A total of seven candidates for city council and three candidates for justice of the peace of Boulder Township will face off in the primary election scheduled for June 11.

Ultrarunner to push himself to the limit

It’s not uncommon for friends or even family members to try and best one another whether that be athletics, academics or relationships.

Vets home hit with 18 citations

In a recent unannounced inspection, the Southern Nevada State Veterans’ Home was cited 18 times for issues ranging from verbal abuse of a patient to failing to provide meals at an appropriate temperature, to employees not having keys to locked gates, which would be needed in the case of an emergency evacuation.

BDCU looks back on past year at annual meeting

For more than eight decades, the Boulder Dam Credit Union has been the most popular place for Boulder City residents to do their banking, not to mention see friends and neighbors.

Top o’ the evening to ya

Photos by Ron Eland/Boulder City Review

BC repaint: Countdown is on

It’s almost time to don that old pair of jeans, the ratty tennis shoes in the back of your closet and a shirt you’re not worried about ruining.

Management of veterans’ home sparks controversy

Documents provided to the Boulder City Review by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) appear to back up many of the accusations leveled at the Nevada Department of Veterans Services (NDVS) and leadership of the Southern Nevada State Veterans Home which is located in Boulder City by current and former employees over the past year. Many of the same issues were also noted by CMS surveyors in an inspection of the home that occurred in January.

Spending for proposed pool to be on Nov. ballot

During Tuesday’s Boulder City Council meeting, City Manager Taylour Tedder may have summed things up best.

Historic preservation event set for May

It’s a couple of months away, but scheduling for events tied to Historic Preservation Day — slated for May 11 —are pretty set and revolve around the theme of Trains, Planes and Automobiles.