SMITHFIELD — A coalition of sports boosters is saying: Let there be lights.

At the Smithfield High School athletic complex, at least.

The Friday Night Lights Committee, made up of school officials, educators and parents, wants to raise $300,000 to provide permanent lighting. Until now, games between Smithfield and North Smithfield athletes, played on Friday evenings, have taken place under temporary, donated lighting. Permanent lights are being installed at rival North Smithfield High School, according to Sen. John J. Tassoni Jr., D-Smithfield, North Smithfield, who is chairman of the Smithfield lights panel.

Tassoni said yesterday that the group is forming a nonprofit organization to be known as the SHS Parent Council/Booster Club, which would make donations tax-deductible.

Tassoni said the fundraisers hope to get half of the $300,000 from the town. He told the School Committee recently that Town Manager Dennis G. Finlay reported that the money is available through the town’s “impact fee,” paid by builders of new houses and earmarked for various purposes, including recreation.

“The FNL Committee hopes that the Town Council will make a commitment to work with us to make this a reality,” he said.

Tassoni said the committee has raised $5,200 over the past few years. He told the School Committee this month that the committee has received an offer of a crane for the work, and that a number of local contractors have said they will donate their labor.

Mike Berry, a representative of Musco Lighting, a nationwide contractor that specializes in sports lighting, said the system envisioned for Smithfield High will have a 25-year warranty. It would be a maintenance-free operation, he said, monitored remotely.

In addition, Berry said, the devices have been engineered to cut energy use by 50 percent. The lights would sit atop 80-foot poles that could withstand winds of up to 150 mph.

Berry estimated the cost of illuminating a typical football game at $25.

Tassoni said the school athletic fund would benefit because it would be able to collect revenue from ticket sales that would not be available without the lighting system.

“These night games have been a wonderful experience for the players, their families and fans from both towns,” Tassoni said.

Also serving on the Friday Night Lights Committee are Virginia G. Harnois, chairwoman of the School Committee; Erin Donovan, a member of the School Committee; Deborah Buffi, president of the Parent Council; Robert Aquillante, girls soccer coach; John Obiurka, head of school maintenance; Chris Branch, football coach; and Tony Torregrossa, athletic director.

tmorgan@projo.com