Franklin Mountain Energy Green Light Central Tank Battery, before and after lighting retrofits. (Courtesy of Franklin
Three oil and gas sites in the Permian Basin received recognition Wednesday for their reduction in light pollution, as part of an effort to keep the stars visible in the Permian and San Juan basins.
DarkSky International, a global authority on light pollution reduction, applauded efforts of Franklin Mountain Energy in Lea County for overhauling lighting practices at three sites, which reduced the skyglow from the oil and gas facilities during the night.
These are the first oil and gas sites in the world to receive a dark sky certification, according to a news release.
“Promoting dark skies practices is a collaborative effort,” said Ruskin Hartley, the CEO ro DarkSky International, in a written statement. “The Alliance’s public-private partnership shows the importance of teamwork to achieve the workable balance between operational safety and security and protecting night sky quality.”
The work to change the temperature of the lighting and ensure it’s pointing downward onto work surfaces instead of into the night sky is part of a public-private partnership called the Dark for the Park Alliance.
Members include Carlsbad National Caverns National Park, Chaco Cultural Heritage Park, New Mexico Oil and Gas Association, Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico State Land Office, and two observatories and dark sky groups.
The alliance has published a lighting guide for oil and gas companies to adopt for new sites or to retrofit existing wells and processing plants. The guide includes suggestions for keeping light directed at the ground, and suggestions for plans, shielding, intensity and light color.
The alliance made the lighting changes a “win-win solution,” to balance safety and reduce skyglow, said Audrey Robertson, the co-founder of the Denver-based oil and gas company.
“Working together with federal and state agencies, industry, and organizations committed to the promotion of responsible lighting practices protects and promotes the sanctity of our star-filled skies,” Roberston said in a media release.
Franklin Mountain Energy was one of the eight companies inspected by federal officials earlier this year, which showed violations of clean air standards at more than half of the facilities. While an inspection report was made public, spokespeople for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency couldn’t offer any further information Wednesday.
Franklin Mountain Energy was also issued a $400,000 fine for emissions violations in 2023.
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