To Prince George’s County Officials, Planning Authorities, and National Harbor Developers:

We urge you to halt the proposed Sphere-style entertainment venue planned for National Harbor, adjacent to the Potomac River.

This project poses clear, preventable risks—not only to migratory birds, but to river health, public well-being, climate goals, and the surrounding community. Approving it would place a high-intensity, energy-hungry, visually intrusive structure into one of the most environmentally sensitive corridors in the region.

A critical river corridor, not a blank canvas
National Harbor sits directly along the Potomac River, a major ecological and migratory corridor that supports birds, fish, insects, and human communities throughout the watershed. Development along this river carries a higher responsibility because impacts do not stop at the property line—they spread across the ecosystem.

A spherical, glass-heavy structure wrapped in high-intensity, animated LED lighting introduces multiple, well-documented environmental harms into this corridor at once.

Wildlife impacts are real and well established
Bright nighttime lighting and reflective glass are a leading cause of bird mortality in North America, killing up to one billion birds annually through collisions and disorientation. Migratory birds travel at night and are drawn to artificial light, especially along rivers that act as natural flyways.

Placing a Sphere-style venue directly on the riverfront dramatically increases the risk of:

• Fatal bird collisions
• Migration disruption and exhaustion
• Ecological imbalance along the river corridor

This is settled science, not speculation.

This is also a public health issue
Excessive artificial light at night is increasingly recognized as a public health concern. High-intensity LED lighting has been linked to:

• Sleep disruption
• Circadian rhythm interference
• Increased stress and reduced quality of life for nearby residents 

A constantly illuminated, animated structure would affect not only visitors, but surrounding neighborhoods that did not consent to permanent nighttime brightness.

Climate and energy costs cannot be ignored
Sphere-style venues are extremely energy-intensive. Even with efficient LEDs, the scale and brightness of continuous animated displays:

• Increase nighttime electricity demand
• Undermine local and state climate commitments
• Contribute to unnecessary energy waste during a climate crisis

Approving this project contradicts stated sustainability goals and sends the message that spectacle outweighs responsible energy use.

Impacts extend into the river itself
Artificial light near waterways disrupts aquatic ecosystems by altering insect behavior, fish feeding patterns, and breeding cycles. These changes ripple outward, affecting the broader Potomac and Chesapeake Bay systems that communities, anglers, and wildlife depend on.

This is not just about what flies above the river—it’s about what lives within it.

This sets a dangerous precedent
Once a structure of this scale and intensity is approved on the Potomac waterfront, it becomes the new baseline. Future developers will point to it to justify even more intrusive projects, ratcheting up light pollution and environmental harm incrementally and permanently.

These impacts cannot be undone after construction.

This is not opposition to development
We support thoughtful, responsible development at National Harbor. We oppose development that:

• Ignores established environmental and public health science
• Places long-term community and ecological costs on the public
• Treats a living river corridor as a backdrop for visual spectacle

Our request
We respectfully call on decision-makers to:

• Halt approval of the proposed Sphere-style venue at National Harbor
• Require a full, independent environmental impact assessment addressing light pollution, wildlife impacts, public health, energy use, and river ecology
• Commit to responsible lighting policies and environmentally appropriate design for all waterfront development

The Potomac River is a shared public trust. Decisions made along its banks affect far more than one parcel of land—and far more than one generation.

We urge you to choose science, stewardship, and community well-being over avoidable harm.

Sincerely,
Concerned residents, environmental advocates, public health supporters, and allies of responsible development

 

Frequently Asked Questions (With Sources)
 
Why is this project considered environmentally harmful?
Because it combines several high-impact factors in a sensitive location: extreme nighttime lighting, reflective glass, high energy use, and placement directly on a major river corridor.

Environmental harm here is cumulative, affecting wildlife, water, human health, and climate—not just one issue in isolation.

 
How does artificial light at night affect wildlife and ecosystems?
Artificial light at night disrupts natural biological rhythms across ecosystems. It affects:

Migratory birds and bats
Insect populations that form the base of food webs
Fish behavior and breeding cycles
Predator–prey relationships
The National Park Service and conservation scientists have documented these cascading impacts extensively.

Sources:

National Park Service – Ecological Effects of Light Pollution
https://www.nps.gov/articles/light-pollution.htm
International Dark-Sky Association – Wildlife Effects
https://www.darksky.org/light-pollution/wildlife/
 
Why is the Potomac River location especially sensitive?
Rivers function as ecological highways. Birds, fish, insects, and mammals concentrate along waterways for navigation, feeding, and migration.

Placing a high-intensity, illuminated structure along the Potomac River:

Increases wildlife exposure to light pollution
Amplifies impacts through light reflecting off water
Spreads effects far beyond the immediate site
Sources:

Audubon – Bird Migration and Flyways
https://www.audubon.org/bird-migration
EPA – Potomac Watershed Protection
https://www.epa.gov/chesapeake-bay-program/potomac-river
 
Is this only about birds?
No. While bird mortality is a major concern, light pollution also affects:

• Human sleep and mental health
• Aquatic ecosystems
• Energy consumption and climate goals
• Community quality of life

Birds are often the most visible indicator of a much broader environmental problem.

 
How does this affect human health?
Medical and public health organizations recognize excessive nighttime lighting as a health issue.

High-intensity LED lighting can:

• Disrupt circadian rhythms
• Reduce sleep quality
• Increase stress and fatigue
• Affect children and older adults more strongly

Sources:

American Medical Association – Human & Environmental Effects of LED Lighting
https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/public-health/human-and-environmental-effects-led-community-lighting
National Institutes of Health – Circadian Rhythms
https://www.nigms.nih.gov/education/fact-sheets/Pages/circadian-rhythms.aspx
 
What is the climate and energy impact of a Sphere-style venue?
Even with efficient LEDs, Sphere-style venues are extremely energy-intensive due to:

• Their scale
• Continuous illumination
• High brightness and animation

This increases nighttime electricity demand and conflicts with climate and sustainability commitments.

Sources:

International Dark-Sky Association – Energy Waste from Light Pollution
https://www.darksky.org/light-pollution/energy-waste/
U.S. Department of Energy – Outdoor Lighting Energy Use
https://www.energy.gov/eere/ssl/energy-savings-estimates-led-lighting
 
Has a structure like this been evaluated for environmental impact before?
There are no publicly released, independent environmental impact studies evaluating the wildlife, river, or public health effects of the Las Vegas Sphere.

The absence of study does not mean absence of harm—it means the risks have not been adequately assessed before proposing similar projects in sensitive locations.

 
Have other cities raised concerns about similar projects?
Yes. A proposed Sphere-style venue in London faced significant opposition and was ultimately rejected, with light pollution cited as a major concern affecting residents and the surrounding environment.

Source:

BBC News – London Sphere Rejection
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-66183051
 
Can these impacts be mitigated after construction?
Some harms can be reduced, but many cannot be fully undone once a structure of this scale and brightness is built.

Conservation groups consistently emphasize that:

Avoiding high-risk locations is more effective than retrofits
Bird-safe design and lighting limits must be required before construction
Sources:

American Bird Conservancy – Bird-Friendly Building Design
https://abcbirds.org/program/glass-collisions/bird-friendly-design/
New York City Audubon – Bird-Safe Building Guidelines
https://nycaudubon.org/our-work/conservation/advocacy/bird-safe-buildings
 
Is this petition anti-development or anti-jobs?
No. This petition supports development that is:

• Environmentally responsible
• Consistent with public health science
• Appropriate for sensitive waterfront locations

Economic development does not require sacrificing river health, community well-being, or climate goals.

 
What is being requested?
We are asking decision-makers to:

• Pause approval of the Sphere-style venue at National Harbor
• Require a full, independent environmental impact assessment
• Commit to responsible lighting and design standards for waterfront development