Keeping the Sunshine State sunny! On Friday, News-4 Jacksonville ran a terrific story headlined, “Gov. DeSantis signs bill to prohibit activities ‘intended to affect’ weather, temperature, sunlight intensity.”
With the stroke of his gubernatorial pen (* not automated), Governor DeSantis signed a law making geoengineering and most weather modification a third-degree felony, and repealed the state’s ability to issue permits for any such future experimental activities. “We don’t want to indulge this nonsense in Florida, where we are proud of our sunshine,” the Governor said.
Violations will be punishable by up to five years in prison and a significant fine of up to $100,000. Each individual infraction counts as a separate violation, potentially leading to far longer and pricier penalties.
Even better, beginning October 1st, all operators of publicly owned airports must submit monthly reports to the Florida Department of Transportation (DEP) on any aircraft “equipped to disperse substances with climate-altering capabilities.” Any airport failing to do so will lose state funding.
The new law also directs the state’s DEP to establish a tipline in the form of a dedicated e-mail address and an online form to let people report suspected geoengineering and weather modification activities. It deleted “the DEP’s authority to conduct studies, research, experimentation, and evaluations in the field of weather modification.”
Republicans enjoy a super-majority in the Legislature, and one of the best governors in the country, but that didn’t stop Democrats from throwing shade on the common-sense law. State Representative Anna Eskamani (D) complained, “This bill is feeding into conspiracy theories.” Then, in the very next breath, she whined about “the risk of curbing valuable scientific research.”
“The last time we had to listen to the science,” Republican Representative Kevin Steele shot back, “we wore masks for nine months.”
Hooray for common sense— and for pandemic experiences that we will never forget.
