GeoLawWatch: Tracking Weather & Climate Legislation

A live overview of all active bills on weather modification, cloud seeding, and geoengineering in the current legislative session.

West Virginia:   BILL HB3207

Introduced

Prohibition of geoengineering

The purpose of this bill is to prohibit the injection, release, or dispersion, by any means, of chemicals, chemical compounds, substances, or apparatus within the borders of this state into the atmosphere with the express purpose of affecting temperature, weather, or the intensity of the sunlight.

Bill summary (AI generated)

The “Prohibition of Geoengineering” bill aims to establish a legal framework that outright bans the intentional injection, release, or dispersion of chemicals or substances into the atmosphere within the state. The primary objective is to prevent any actions designed to artificially manipulate temperature, weather patterns, or sunlight intensity, which include various geoengineering techniques often discussed in climate change mitigation circles. If this bill becomes law, individuals and organizations will be prohibited from conducting any activities that involve the release of aerosols or other substances into the atmosphere with the intent to influence climate conditions. This means a complete ban on practices associated with solar radiation management or other forms of climate engineering that seek to alter natural weather systems. Enforcement of this law would likely involve regulatory oversight and measures to identify and penalize any infractions. Violators could face legal action or sanctions as the state seeks to uphold the integrity of its climate systems against potentially harmful interventions. The overarching goal of this legislation aligns with the precautionary principle, aiming to safeguard the environment against untested and potentially dangerous geoengineering practices, while maintaining a focus on natural climate solutions.

History

Earum velit ea iusto velit. Eos in quidem nesciunt aut veniam vel repellendus.

  • Thu 06 Mar 2025 Filed for introduction
  • Thu 06 Mar 2025 To Energy and Public Works
  • Thu 06 Mar 2025 Introduced in House
  • Thu 06 Mar 2025 To House Energy and Public Works

Bill text html

WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE

2025 REGULAR SESSION

Introduced

House Bill 3207

By Delegates Canterbury and Cooper
[By Request]

[Introduced March 06, 2025; referred to the Committee on Energy and Public Works]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §22-5-21, relating to prohibiting the injection, release, or dispersion, by any means, of chemicals, chemical compounds, substances, or apparatus within the borders of this state into the atmosphere with the express purpose of affecting temperature, weather, or the intensity of the sunlight.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

 

ARTICLE 5. AIR POLLUTION CONTROL.

§22-5-21. Prohibiting dispersion of chemicals or apparatus into the atmosphere to intentionally affect temperature, weather, or the intensity of sunlight.

(a) Legislative findings: The Legislature finds that:

(1) It is documented that the federal government or other entities acting on the federal government's behalf or at the federal government's request, or non-government entities may conduct geoengineering experiments by intentionally dispersing chemicals into the atmosphere, and those activities may occur within the state of West Virginia;

(2) The risk to human health and environmental welfare from broad scale geoengineering is currently not well understood;

(3) The West Virginia Department of Environment Protection is responsible for monitoring air, soil, and water quality, and regulating industrial and agricultural emissions into the air, soil, and water within the state to ensure the safety of the public, while not impeding agriculture or commerce within the state; and

(4) It is the intent of the Legislature to protect the public health and welfare of West Virginians while allowing all authorized activities permitted under state law; now, therefore,

(b) The intentional injection, release, or dispersion, by any means, of chemicals, chemical compounds, substances, or apparatus within the borders of this state into the atmosphere with the express purpose of affecting temperature, weather, or the intensity of the sunlight is prohibited.   

(c) This act takes effect within 30 days of passage.

 

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to prohibit the injection, release, or dispersion, by any means, of chemicals, chemical compounds, substances, or apparatus within the borders of this state into the atmosphere with the express purpose of affecting temperature, weather, or the intensity of the sunlight.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.