An Act to Prohibit Geoengineering, Including the Use of Cloud
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 0825
Committee: Environment and Natural Resources
Sponsors: BLACK, GREENWOOD
Amends: 38 MRSA §579-A

Legislative Document
No. 825
S.P. 345
In Senate, March 4, 2025
An Act to Prohibit Geoengineering, Including the Use of Cloud 
Seeding, Weather Modification, Excessive Radio Waves and 
Microwave Radiation
Reference to the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources suggested and ordered 
printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator BLACK of Franklin.  (BY REQUEST)
Cosponsored by Representative GREENWOOD of Wales.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  38 MRSA §579-A is enacted to read:
§579-A.  Geoengineering prohibited
1.  Definitions.  As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the 
following terms have the following meanings. 
A.  "Excessive electromagnetic, radio frequency or microwave radiation emissions" 
means:
(1)  With respect to electromagnetic emissions:
(a)  A low-frequency alternating current electric field in excess of one volt per 
meter;
(b)  A magnetic field in excess of one milligauss;
(c)  So-called dirty electricity caused by transients in electrical wiring that must 
be filtered for safety;
(d)  Ionizing radiation in excess of 0.02 millisievert per hour;
(e)  A laser or other light with harmful effects; or
(f)  Any vibration, noise, sound amplification by stimulated emissions 
radiation, sonic weapon or other physical agent exceeding established 
guidelines or standards; and
(2)  With respect to radio frequency or microwave radiation emissions, emissions 
of a signal strength in excess of -85 decibel-milliwatt for any frequency or channel 
band specified by a transmitting entity's transmission license.
B.  "Geoengineering" means any intentional, large-scale intervention in Earth's natural 
systems, including, but not limited to, stratospheric aerosol injection; weather 
modification techniques; excessive electromagnetic, radio frequency or microwave 
radiation emissions; harmful nuclear, biological or chemical emissions; or other 
polluting atmospheric activity.
C.  "Harmful nuclear, biological or chemical emissions" means any nuclear, biological 
or chemical emission that is xenobiotic and would otherwise not exist in the natural 
environment or that is otherwise found at xenobiotic levels or levels beyond the limit 
allowed under state or federal law.
D.  "Solar radiation management" means any technique designed to reflect a portion of 
the sun's radiation back into space.
E.  "Stratospheric aerosol injection" means the release of reflective sulfate or other 
aerosol particles into the stratosphere by high-altitude planes or blimps, tethered 
balloons, artillery or other means for the purpose of solar radiation management.
F.  "Weather modification technique" means any technique designed to alter or attempt 
to alter Earth's natural weather patterns, including, but not limited to, cloud seeding.
2.  Prohibition.  Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a person may 
not engage in any activity that constitutes or involves geoengineering.
3.  Enforcement; investigations; violations.  The department shall enforce the 
prohibition in this section.  If the department discovers or is otherwise made aware of an 
activity that may constitute or involve geoengineering, the department shall immediately 
initiate appropriate investigative measures to determine whether a violation of this section 
is occurring or has occurred and shall issue to any person engaging in the activity a notice 
directing the person to cease all such activity that may be occurring in violation of this 
section.  
Notwithstanding section 349, Title 17-A, section 1704, subsection 3 or any other provision 
of law to the contrary, a person that violates this section commits a Class C crime and is 
subject to a fine of $500,000 for each day the violation continues and any other applicable 
penalties under this Title or other provision of law or rule.  
4.  Activities involving Federal Government or other state or country.  If the 
department determines that an activity that constitutes or involves geoengineering 
occurring or that had occurred within the State involves, directly or indirectly, the Federal 
Government, another state or another country, the department shall issue to the Federal 
Government or other state or country a notice that:
A.  The activity is prohibited by law from occurring in or above the State; and
B.  The Federal Government or other state or country is prohibited from engaging in 
any future atmospheric activities in or above the State, regardless of whether such 
activities involve or constitute geoengineering. 
5.  Reporting of violations.  The department shall post on its publicly accessible 
website information regarding the prohibition under this section and encouraging the public 
to monitor, measure, document and report to the department incidents that may constitute 
or involve geoengineering.  Upon receipt of any such report, the department shall 
immediately initiate appropriate investigative measures to determine whether a violation 
of this section is occurring or has occurred.
SUMMARY
This bill prohibits a person from engaging in any activity that constitutes or involves 
geoengineering.  "Geoengineering" is defined in the bill as any intentional, large-scale 
intervention in Earth's natural systems and includes stratospheric aerosol injection; weather 
modification techniques; excessive electromagnetic, radio frequency or microwave 
radiation emissions; harmful nuclear, biological or chemical emissions; or other polluting 
atmospheric activity.  The Department of Environmental Protection is charged with 
enforcing the prohibition, and a person that violates the prohibition commits a Class C 
crime and is subject to a fine of $500,000 for each day the violation continues and any other 
applicable penalties under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 38 or other provision of law 
or rule.