South Carolina beach town lighting the way for sea turtles, safely

FOLLY BEACH, SC (ABC) — A new project is underway in South Carolina to keep wildlife, and humans, safe.

Folly Beach is installing turtle-friendly street lighting along East Ashley and Arctic avenues. A crew working for Dominion Energy has begun the installation of thirty-seven of the turtle-friendly street lights. The project is in partnership with the city.

What makes the new lights turtle-friendly? Dominion Energy’s Paul Fischer revealed that it’s in the color – the lights are amber in color, and operate on a different wavelength.

Artificial lighting, on the other hand, “has the potential to disorient and confuse the turtle hatchlings.” It can send turtles away from the ocean, endangering one of the low country’s favorite species.

Mayor Tim Goodwin explained, “when the little ones hatch, they’ll see the moon over the ocean as bright white – which is what they’re looking for by nature.” This puts them on the right path, heading to the water rather than out to the road because of a white streetlight.

The new lights not only protect the ocean dwellers, but Folly folks, too. “It also gives us light on the street and pathways for people, to keep the people safe,” added Goodwin.

Fischer called the project “innovative” and “a long term solution” because it involves replacing existing street lighting that Folly Beach already had in place.

During turtle hatching season, people who live near Folly Beach are asked to keep off their outside lights, as much as possible.