AUSTIN, TX - A bill recently introduced in the Texas Legislature aims to prohibit weather modification activities, reviving debate over the use of techniques like cloud seeding.
Weather modification has been regulated in Texas since the 1960s, but critics argue the practice lacks transparency and sufficient oversight.
The proposed legislation defines weather modification as the use of chemicals or apparatuses to alter temperature, weather patterns, or sunlight. Violating the proposed law would constitute a Class A misdemeanor. Current regulations require a permit, which costs $100, through the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). The agency oversees cloud seeding and other activities designed to influence rainfall or suppress hail.
Once you land on the TDLR page, you can buy a permit or even an expensive license to modify the weather in Texas. A permit is only $100!
The bill has sparked polarized responses. Some Republican legislators argue that weather modification raises environmental and ethical concerns. However, opponents, including some Democrats, dismiss the bill as an overreaction to conspiracy theories, pointing to the long-standing scientific basis for cloud seeding.
The debate comes as a recent NBC News report highlighted concerns about chemicals in drinking water. Researchers identified a byproduct of chloramine, used in water treatment, which may pose health risks. This discovery has added to public scrutiny of chemical interventions in natural systems.
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