Bright Greenhouse Lights Shine Through the Night Sky

The bright pink and yellow shades are so vivid that astronauts can capture them in photos from space.

Situated on the largest collection of greenhouses in North America, these colorful lights have changed both the night sky in a section of southwestern Ontario and the province’s multi-billion-dollar agricultural industry.

In the past decade, vegetable and cannabis growers have set up thousands of lights inside greenhouses in Leamington and Kingsville, Ont., allowing for year-round plant growth. However, this glow coming from Canada’s southernmost area, which can sometimes be spotted as far away as Michigan, has sparked both admiration and concern. As a result, local communities have enacted bylaws to limit how much light escapes from these greenhouses after dark.

“The technology came in so quick that being able to react and adapt to some of the perceived nuisances took some time,” says Richard Lee, executive director of the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers, representing 170 members – most located in Essex County.

Lights used to help grow crops year-round are seen under light-blocking curtains in a commercial greenhouse in Kingsville, Ont., on May 7, 2026. (Emma Loop/CBC)

The new rules have decreased the amount of light shining into the sky. Still, at times you can see that vibrant glow across the region – even from the International Space Station, as was observed back in March.

“It’s a lot of light,” says Starr Livingstone, who works as a light pollution abatement officer for the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada’s Windsor chapter. She notes that this brightness impacts their nearby observatory.

“It’s better than it was because at one point the whole sky was just lit up all night.”

The reason some light is still visible has to do with various factors like exceptions within regulations and even lunar cycles according to Lee and others involved with addressing this issue.

“At the end of the day, I think residents in Windsor and surrounding areas have some unsettling concerns and likely curiosity about where this glow’s coming from,” Lee said. 

Richard Lee, executive director of the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers, at his office in Leamington, Ont., on May 7, 2026. (Emma Loop/CBC)

“This is where we need to do a better job. They want to know they’re being heard,” he added.

“That glow is simply a byproduct of our mitigation strategies we’ve put into place; however it comes with trade-offs such as fresh local food availability, economic benefits for jobs here and abroad along with maintaining North America’s food sovereignty.”

The greenhouse boom – and challenges faced

Nasa satellite images earlier this year showing significant growth in greenhouses around Kingsville and nearby Leamington since 2015.

This increase is partly due to Canada legalizing marijuana but also because growers started using lighting technology enabling year-round cultivation for various plants which has fueled greenhouse expansion too according to those involved.

“They’re getting yields you can’t achieve through open field farming,” says John Norton who serves as chief administrative officer for Kingsville.

“It makes growing vegetables or cannabis or whatever they’re cultivating more profitable when done within limited spaces,” he explained further saying “So combining that with tech allowing them continuous growth throughout seasons has made quite an impact.”

Lee mentions demand for fresh produce-especially during supply chain issues arising from COVID-19-has also played an essential role.

Mini cucumbers grown inside a commercial greenhouse situated within Kingsville region on May 7th ,2026.( Emma Loop / CBC )

” We were reached out by every governmental level trying figuring out what additional crops could be cultivated inside greenhouses ,” Lee stated.

There exists strong economic reasoning behind commercial greenhouses producing tomatoes , cucumbers , peppers , and strawberries among others since they yield sufficient output he pointed out.

” Hence when considering food security together providing locally sourced products plus driving economies forward particularly these communities-we recognized chance here displacing many imports entering Canada during offseason.” he added.

Nevertheless rapid adaptation towards grow-light technologies encountered criticism locally particularly owing ecological worries. This area hosts distinct Carolinian ecosystems & lies along key migratory routes birds butterflies like monarchs encounter regularly.

Consequently both towns namely Kingsville & Leamington enacted regulations recently addressing rising light pollution generated via greenhouses.

Understanding what bylaws permit-and don’t

Leamington established an anti-light regulation back December twenty-twenty ordering farmers install curtain systems blocking emitted radiance atop sides ceiling their structures while compelling them either shut off illumination entirely or keep drapes drawn completely between eight PM until two AM hours respectively.

However businesses alongside OGVG swiftly sought exemptions under provincial laws safeguarding customary agricultural practices citing necessity opening coverings occasionally releasing heat moisture potentially damaging plants if kept excessively confined together therein hence leading revised version current law permitting growers open curtains by up ten percent certain intervals nighttime hours instead now becoming effective measure instituted subsequently thereafter !

” When drapery covers become entirely closed venting air circulation stops causing trouble,” explains William Lubitz professor engineering department University Guelph focusing research towards innovation agriculture tech developments today!

Light-blocking curtains retract demonstrating operation functionalities observed through commercial premises located around vicinity within Kingsvillle town region dated May seventh again twenty twenty-six.( Emma Loop/CBC )

” All those crops growing underneath generate humidity heat resulting escaping needing allowance-as consequence implies visibility remains somewhat present still emanating glows overhead above!” asserted fellow academic professional analyzing effects practical applications initiated amongst regional stakeholders previously noted higher exposures reported thus far.. “

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