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Oct 17, 2024

Ask the I-Team: What's the deal with the purple lights at the Forest Ave. Hannaford?

The CBS13 I-Team loves getting your questions, because they range from serious topics on things like scams to just general curiosities about what you see happening across the state and want to know

The CBS13 I-Team loves getting your questions, because they range from serious topics on things like scams to just general curiosities about what you see happening across the state and want to know more about.

And this week’s question is just that, a simple observation from an eagle-eyed viewer wondering why he's seeing purple in a parking lot.

David asked the CBS13 I-Team:

When CBS13 went out to get video of the parking lot, it's hard not to notice the purple hue. You can even see it shining bright from across the cove.

It's a stark contrast to the normal white LED streetlamps across the city.

Up close, some of the LEDs seem to still be shining white, but most are the bright purple color.

So, with the lights like this for a few months now, CBS13 reached out to Hannaford to see why.

Could purple be a solution for light pollution?

Turns out that's not the case.

A spokesperson for Hannaford told the CBS13 I-Team:

LED streetlights spontaneously turning purple isn't unique to just Maine. That manufacturer defect has impacted cities, towns, and businesses across the country in recent years.

In most cases, they're easily replaced and you're back to seeing a little more clearly at night.