Pielli earns Environmental Leadership Award from West Chester Green Team
Award recognizes Pielli’s bills on light pollution and native species protection
Rep. Chris Pielli October 21, 2025 | 9:11 AM
WEST CHESTER, Oct. 21 – State Rep. Chris Pielli, D-Chester, announced that last night that he has received the Environmental Leadership Award from the West Chester Green Team, a civic organization that works to educate the public about green initiatives in the community in harmony with nature and each other while promoting the health of all living things on planet Earth.
Each year, the West Chester Green Team gives the award to legislators or other community leaders for their work in protecting and promoting the health of the environment. Last year, state Sen. Carolyn Comitta, D-Chester, received the award for her legislation on protecting Pennsylvania’s state insect, the firefly.
“I am very pleased and humbled to receive this award working on the important issue of light pollution with my bill, House Bill 969,” Pielli said. “The detrimental effects of light pollution extend beyond an artificial skyglow to adverse effects on the health of both humans and other living organisms.
“These adverse effects include a disruption of our natural circadian rhythm, as well as an increase in the risk of developing breast and prostate cancer. Artificial light has also been known to interfere with a variety of wildlife behaviors, such as confusing young sea turtles into walking toward shorelines instead of the ocean upon hatching and disorienting birds during migration, resulting in detours, energy drain and collisions with illuminated structures.”
After receiving the award from West Chester University Professor Marc Gagne, Pielli joined a panel discussion on preventing light pollution and preserving dark skies.