UPDATE: A controversial geoengineering experiment aiming to alter weather conditions over the San Francisco Bay was abruptly stopped by city officials after just 20 minutes of operation. The initiative, funded by billionaires and led by the University of Washington, intended to use a retired aircraft carrier and salt-spraying technology to create man-made clouds over a massive area larger than Puerto Rico.
New documents obtained by Politico’s E&E News reveal the ambitious scope of the project, which sought to mitigate climate change by reflecting sunlight away from Earth. The operation was planned to extend beyond the Bay Area to regions including western North America, Chile, and south-central Africa. However, it was halted when Alameda officials, unaware of the experiment, intervened.
Project leaders aimed to assess the feasibility of cloud-manufacturing instruments capable of producing observable changes detectable from space. The 2023 research plan indicated that the entire project could cost between $10 million and $20 million, depending on governmental support and operational challenges.
“The program does not recommend, support or develop plans for the use of marine cloud brightening to alter weather or climate,” stated Sarah Doherty, who leads the Marine Cloud Brightening Program. This statement comes amid growing scrutiny of solar geoengineering, which has sparked fears of unintended weather manipulation and ecological impacts.
Critics, including over 575 scientists, have called for a total ban on geoengineering, arguing it cannot be effectively governed. Meanwhile, some U.S. lawmakers, such as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, have linked such technologies to environmental disasters, introducing bills aimed at criminalizing their use.
Proponents, however, argue that the risks posed by climate change necessitate continued research into potential solutions. Chris Larsen, a cryptocurrency billionaire and donor to the project, emphasized,
“At a time when scientists are facing political attacks and drastic funding cuts, we need to complement a rapid energy transition with more research into a broad range of potential climate solutions.”
Despite the quick termination of the Alameda experiment, the implications are significant. The initiative reflects a desperate push for innovative strategies in climate change mitigation as traditional methods face increasing political and public resistance.
As the debate intensifies, the future of geoengineering remains uncertain. Observers are now closely watching to see if these billionaire backers and researchers will attempt to revive the project or pivot to alternative strategies in the fight against climate change.
Stay tuned for more developments on this evolving story.
