Springfield prison

Officially, Vermont's Southern State Correctional Facility, but known informally as Springfield Prison. Construction of this 350-bed facility was controversial, but for an unconventional reason: A prison's 24-hour high-intensity security lighting could cause massive light pollution, with harmful effects on the dark skies of nearby Stellafane Observatory, a National Historic Site and host of the annual Stellafane Convention, whose visitors provide a major economic boost to the town of Springfield. Faced with petitions signed by Stellafane supporters from across the world, Vermont governor Howard Dean agreed to a compromise, and had the prison lighting designed by experts recommended by the International Dark Sky Association. Springfield prison is now a model for low-impact (and energy efficient!) outdoor lighting.

The controversy: query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=travel&res=9A07...

The compromise: www.newrules.org/environment/sprvtmit.html

The IDA: www.darksky.org/

Stellafane: www.stellafane.com/

The prison: www.doc.state.vt.us/facilities_and_offices/sscf/