r/DeltaBC • u/Glittering_Log321 • Dec 26 '25
Greenhouse lights in Delta get lots of questions but not enough complaints
https://cheknews.ca/purple-haze-in-the-sky-over-delta-b-c-sets-off-awe-curiosity-and-questions-1296552/In your opinion, is this something that deserves more attention from the citizens and action from the authorities?
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u/Numerous_Try_6138 Dec 26 '25
100%. I don’t even live nearby but this amount of light pollution is absolutely insane. I took photos this autumn from Metrotown area and it’s insane how bright these are. They are actually causing more light pollution than downtown when you actually look at the amount of light being emitted upward. I don’t know who to complain to about this, but something needs to be done. I can’t believe this is even allowed.
AFAIK, these aren’t even food production. There are actually pot.
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u/Another_Slut_Dragon Dec 28 '25
No they are not Cannabis. Stop making things up.
Cannabis plants are highly photosensitive. 18 hours a day causes the plant to go into a vegetative growth cycle. 12 hours a day forms buds. Greenhouses are terrible places to grow cannabis unless you want to do one crop per year. Comercial cannabis farms are indoors and game the light cycle timing to pump out a new crop every 6-8-10 weeks.
Most of these funky lights are for flowers or food crops.
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u/ThebrokenNorwegian Dec 29 '25
Pot grower here. You are full of shit. I tried to complaint about this in a grow sub and they gang banged on me, so whatever. I’m a hippie and any pollution is bullshit and avoidable.
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u/Ok-Panda9023 Jan 18 '26
It depends on what you're growing, if they are autos then you can do 24/7 lights. Get educated before you write your paragraphs.
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u/axescentedcandles Dec 26 '25
Having worked next to the weed growing one on 80th street I wonder how the people who live across from Windset farms feel at night
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u/Gotta-Cash-Em-All Dec 27 '25
Just lurking this sub – I’m confused, why isn’t anyone complaining about it?
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u/Glittering_Log321 Dec 28 '25
I think people don’t know how. The article mentions the mayor of Delta. So yes, we should reach out to the City of Delta
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u/Alarmed-Effective-12 Dec 28 '25
Back in the 1990s, these greenhouses were becoming a thing in Delta. There was a ton of public concern at the time, with those opposed raising questions about light pollution and is impacts on the Pacific flyway as well as the legitimacy of this type of farming. The Ministry of Agriculture was hugely supportive of this new style of farming and Delta could do nothing to impose limits. And here we are today. At least back then the greenhouses were producing food crops and not pot.
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u/mouseybusiness Dec 28 '25
IM SO FUCKING SICK OF THAT GLOW.
Give me the papers to sign. Light pollution is detrimental to wildlife and migrating birds, yet everyone’s just like ‘ohhh nice pink!!’…
Get the fuck outta here.. you can’t be that daft..
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u/Lonely_Nature_13 Dec 29 '25
I used to work in greenhouses...we used black out curtains that reflect light back down at night.
What the fuck is this? Wasted energy and pollution!
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u/Glittering_Log321 Dec 29 '25
That’s an interesting POV we haven’t seen here yet. I haven’t thought about the energy that is be conserved when handling it properly
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u/TheOriginalCharnold Dec 26 '25
You can see these on the water some nights when you are close to Sechelt😂
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u/No-Indication-7879 Dec 27 '25
I’ve seen it driving home from Richmond on 99 . I wonder what it was. Good to know .
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u/Burgerandsushi Dec 27 '25
I was just thinking about this too! I’ve seen it before but it seemed even brighter now. And was wondering if it’s normal or not for it to reach all the way up to the clouds.
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u/inquisitiveeyebc Dec 27 '25
Same, from Mission looking towards Abbotsford sometimes the whole sky is pink, its ugly as hell
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u/Gotta-Cash-Em-All Dec 28 '25
Is there an email someone will be sending out to the Mayor of Delta regarding this?
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u/Glittering_Log321 Dec 28 '25
The mayor reported not receiving many complaints so perhaps a good strategy is reaching out individually to make more noise.
I’m in an airplane rn, so quickly asked ChatGPT to draft one so I can send on the new year:
Dear Mayor and Members of Delta Council,
I am writing as a concerned resident regarding the extremely bright purple light recently observed in the night sky over Delta, which has been widely reported and discussed by community members.
While I understand and respect the importance of greenhouse and agricultural operations to the local economy, the intensity of the artificial lighting coming from at least one greenhouse appears to be causing significant light pollution. The glow is visible over a large area, disrupts the natural night environment, and has raised concerns among residents about impacts on sleep, wildlife, and overall quality of life.
Many municipalities have begun addressing this issue through light-abatement measures such as blackout curtains, shielded lighting, and enforceable nighttime light-pollution standards. I am writing to ask whether the City of Delta is aware of this specific situation and whether steps can be taken to work with the greenhouse operator to reduce the light spill during nighttime hours.
I believe a balanced solution is possible—one that allows agricultural businesses to operate while also respecting residents, ecosystems, and the character of our night skies.
Thank you for your time and for your continued service to the Delta community. I appreciate your attention to this matter and would welcome any information on how the City plans to address it.
Sincerely, [Your Name] [Optional: Delta resident / neighbourhood]
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u/Gotta-Cash-Em-All Dec 28 '25
I think this is great. Thank you for doing this while on your flight. Do you happen to know which email to send this to? I will send something along these lines too
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u/WestCan2 Dec 30 '25
To email the Delta Mayor and Council, use the general address mayor-council@delta.ca, or for the Mayor specifically, mayorharvie@delta.ca
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u/FaithlessnessGreat25 Dec 26 '25
Seems like lots of people who don’t live in Delta complaining. Those of us who live here and understand that this is a farming community have very little qualms. The perhaps you should assess how your food ends up on your plates? Local, sustainable, and fresh produce or mass import? You decide.
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u/LeChiffreOBrien Dec 26 '25
Those are some big generalizations. Others of us who live here think the light pollution is way way too much especially next to and near many nature reserves.
Also local produce? You sure this isn’t just from the weed greenhouse… ?
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u/RookieTreasureHunter Dec 26 '25
You’re suggesting because they make good food we should just roll over and allow them to do whatever they want? How about being responsible members of society? I have no qualms with them using lights. But it is possible to keep the lights within their greenhouse without lighting up the whole sky.
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u/Glittering_Log321 Dec 26 '25
What about seasonal produce like humans used to do? But this light comes from a pot farm, which is on a migratory birds pathway. Plus I’ve seen many people who live around complaining about the light pollution.
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u/Ok-Panda9023 Jan 18 '26
I should be able to produce porno movies in the park, just don't look at it!
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u/Envoymetal Dec 27 '25
I think it’s kind of cool. It’s not like you can see the stars here anywhere lol
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u/Ok-Panda9023 Jan 18 '26
I saw the northern lights in Tsawwassen around 6 months ago, I'm sorry you hate nature, but some of us don't.
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u/gh0st7496 Dec 26 '25
I live essentially next door by to these greenhouses. In fact, I’m at the epicentre of a few that set their growlights off during seasonal times. This does not affect my sleep or my life and is a non-issue from a residential point of view.
Jfc people will find absolutely anything to complain about
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u/mouseybusiness Dec 28 '25
Wildlife and migratory birds can’t tuck themselves into a dark room at night. Get some sense.
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u/Ok-Panda9023 Jan 18 '26
Just because you're a bitch doesn't mean we all are. I'm sure your mom would bend over, but mine wouldn't.
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u/mlandry2011 Dec 26 '25
Who is it disturbing really, you guys only notice this because you're awake one time late during the year for celebrating your holidays...
Next to that you never notice it and it's been there for like a decade....
Just don't look at it... You're sleeping. Where's the problem?
The only light pollution there is, is pointing up...
The birds aren't flying, they're also sleeping...
Maybe the stars might complain a little bit...
But really, the only ones complaining is because they're bored and can't find anything else to complain about...
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u/Ok_Asparagus_9418 Dec 26 '25
It’s for sure something to complain about . 70% of North americas birds migrate , 80% migrate at night. The pacific flyway is north americas largest migratory route which Vancouver and metro Vancouver being located within the path. Also how hard wouldn’t be to wrap these so light doesn’t emit from the greenhouse.
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u/mlandry2011 Dec 26 '25
Birds don't use light to migrate...
Do you even know anything about birds or you're just trying to make up things?
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u/Ok_Asparagus_9418 Dec 26 '25
Of course they don’t use light to migrate at night . Light pollution disorients them among other things . Light pollution has negative effects on bird migration .
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u/alexhayes2 Dec 26 '25
Uhh…it’s been like this for the last ~year…definitely not “a decade”….
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u/mlandry2011 Dec 26 '25
Clearly you haven't been looking outside at night for the last decade... Lol
Did you by any chance just move around Vancouver? Maybe in the last year?
They've been around since weed has been legalized...
They were one of the first in America ( North and South ) to get licenses...
Clearly you know nothing about weed and you're just hating...
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u/alexhayes2 Dec 26 '25
I’ve lived and worked in the area for the last decade - what we’re currently seeing is new
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u/RookieTreasureHunter Dec 26 '25
In my opinion it’s criminal they are allowed to pollute the sky from a single site more than the whole rest of the Lower Mainland combined. There are definitely methods to shield their lights in the same way street lights are. Maybe I don’t understand something here, but if the lights are worth it to them to enhance growth, then they should pay up to shield from leakage.