Republican-backed bill would outlaw geoengineering in Arizona

A Republican-backed bill in the Legislature would ban the practice of geoengineering, which has the potential to manage the sun’s intensity and other atmospheric conditions.

SB 1432 is sponsored by Sen. David Farnsworth, R-Mesa.

There is a scientific basis for looking at ways to block sunlight to curb climate change. It has long been known, for example, that pollution from erupting volcanoes can reduce solar radiation and cause cooling.

And there already have been experiments, with even Scientific American noting some efforts. There also is a report in MIT Technology Review saying that, from a technology standpoint, large-scale deployment could occur within five years.

But the debate at the state Capitol instead featured a parade of speakers contending this already is happening.

Without evidence, bill supporters cited safety concerns and some claimed geoengineering technology is already being deployed large-scale.

Some speakers voiced concerns of what are called “chemtrails” coming out of aircraft, poisoning the atmosphere and blocking out the sun, rejecting arguments that those trails are aircraft engine condensation.

Democratic state Sen. Priya Sundareshan says the bill’s supporters have misplaced concern.

"The conspiracy theories related to chemtrails that in actuality are the condensation trails from airplanes are not the problem. The problem is unchecked air pollution," Sundareshan said.

A similar stricter bill, that would have outlawed a method of producing more rain, has not advanced in the Legislature.