by Paul Bean

A petition has been started in Vergennes for a March 4, 2025 Town Meeting ballot agenda question seeking a Vermont ban on he use of geoengineering technologies.

The  Article reads: “Shall the Vergennes city council demand the Vermont Governor and legislature commit to and sign into law the following: “Environmental Preservation – As enacted, prohibits the intentional injection, release, or dispersion, by any means, of chemicals, chemical compounds, substances, or apparatus within the borders of this state into the atmosphere with the express purpose of affecting temperature, weather, or the intensity of the sunlight.”

This petition was started by Vergennes resident Ed Kemon who writes in a flier explaining the petition:

“We treasure the beautiful state of Vermont, home to lush forests and an abundance of wildlife. Unfortunately, the stability and preservation of our unique ecosystems are being threatened by harmful GeoEngineering activities on a weekly basis. Specifically, we have identified the release or injection of chemical particles such as Aluminum, Barium and Strontium into our atmosphere with the intent of manipulating temperature, weather, or sunlight intensity as a damaging and urgent concern. This practice threatens to disrupt regular climatic patterns, leading to severe consequences such as floods, destruction of homes and infrastructure, devastation of local flora and fauna, and even poisoning of water bodies. In our commitment to environmental preservation, we want to enact state-wide legislation in Vermont that strictly prohibits this irresponsible and destructive behavior.”

This petition comes as many people wonder if weather modification technologies are contributing to natural disasters and climate change. 

Some environmentalists in recent days have been pointing to geoengineering and weather modification as a potential solution to climate change regardless of the potential for extreme negative externalities. 

This includes Vermont environmentalist Bill McKibben who recently said of geoengineering at a “Climate Talk” in Waitsfield Vermont,  “I think it’s a terrible idea, and I think we’re gonna do it, or something like it if we are not able very quickly to get the temperature on this earth under control. I think we have that same narrow window for about 5 years- to build out as much renewable energy as we possibly can and then see where we are. We may well decide that it might also be worthwhile to do something like that because the planet is just getting unlivable otherwise. But the more renewable energy we build and the faster, the less screwing around with our planet we will have to do. 

“This is one reason why it’s so important we make use of the very straightforward technological opportunities we now have. The idea that we could counteract the carbon dioxide being poured into the atmosphere by pouring in some sulfur is a really disgusting commentary on our ability as a species, it’s also really dangerous because we really have no idea how it could play out. The computer models indicates that it may well move the monsoons off the subcontinent and change weather patterns enough to do that, and there’s a couple billion people who depend on the operation of the monsoons to provide their sustenance every year so we don’t want to do this if we can possibly avoid it.”

The advocacy for the deliberate action to manipulate the climate is a growing phenomena and we will be following this story to see how it develops.

“By signing this petition, you are taking a stand for our home, our environment, and our future,” writes Kemon. “Stand with us in pushing for a law that will protect not only ourselves but also the generations to come. Sign now to ban the intentional release of toxic chemicals into our Vermont skies.”

Last week at a geoengineering resistance gathering in Colchester, I met Kemon as well as some other geoengineering activist. They have been asking for signatures since August 15th and they say they now have nearly 15 signatures

The signed petitions, signed by town residents only, must be submitted to each town by the first week in January to be considered for the warning for Town Meeting Day. Town officials are not obligated to place the non-binding citizen initiatives on the ballot. If they choose not to do so, the question may be raised during the public discussion or other business section of a public meeting.

Click here to read the flier and petition.