As data centers expand, advocates call for regulations on lights 

When it comes to data centers, Vayujeet Gokhale has but one ask.

“If you are going to have lights on at night, then let’s do it in a responsible way,” he said.

Gokhale is a physics professor at Truman State University and a board member for DarkSky Missouri — the state chapter for an international non-profit aimed at reducing artificial lighting at night. The broader organization has taken a similar stance.

Gokhale acknowledges that his cause might not be the first or second priority for most communities. It might not even be third, he said. Yet, he argues that it may be the easiest of environmental problems to solve.

“You don’t need to light up the place for these computers and memory banks to work. They’ll still work even if it’s co...