Kentucky committee backs bill to ban large-scale geoengineering over state skies

A Kentucky House committee on Feb. 5 advanced House Bill 60 with a committee substitute that would ban attempts to spray substances into the upper atmosphere for the purpose of reflecting sunlight or modifying weather over Kentucky.

Rep. John Hodgson (state representative, District 36), who presented the bill alongside Sen. Steve Rawlings, described geoengineering as the deliberate injection of materials such as sulfur dioxide or aluminum into the stratosphere to reduce warming. "If you are attempting to use a balloon or rocket or an airplane to spray pollutants into the upper atmosphere to block sunlight or modify the weather, don't do that over the skies of Kentucky," Hodgson said.

The committee substitute adds explicit exclusions for ground-level agricultural activity, solar panels and windmills so that ordinary farm spraying, crop-duster activity and renewable-energy infrastructure are not targeted. Hodgson told the committee those clarifications were intended to "hold them harmless" and avoid frivolous litigation against industries that are not the bill’s target.

Members asked technical and enforcement questions. Rep. Blanton asked how a state could identify perpetrators who operate from out of state and noted concerns about criminal enforcement reaching federal actors. Hodgson said proving a violation would likely require finding an aircraft and physical evidence such as spray tanks, and that the bill requires officers to notify appropriate federal officials if a federal agency or official is implicated rather than attempting to criminally charge them.

Rep. Watkins asked about research exemptions and whether university cloud‑seeding work would be affected. Hodgson said the bill exempts ground‑level agricultural activities and crop spraying; he noted cloud seeding typically occurs at lower altitudes (described in committee as often below about 15,000 feet) and said cloud‑seeding activity is not licensed in Kentucky at present.

The committee voted to give a favorable recommendation to the substitute and the chair announced the bill "does pass with favorable expression," sending HB 60 to the House floor for further consideration.

The bill's text as discussed bans high‑altitude geoengineering (examples given: balloons, rockets, specialized aircraft) and leaves established agricultural and renewable‑energy operations untouched by the prohibition. The committee recorded technical discussion about enforceability and the distinctions between ordinary contrails and deliberate stratospheric spraying.

Next steps: HB 60 will be scheduled for House floor consideration following the committee’s favorable recommendation.