Topic: The Clean Air and Geoengineering Prohibition Act. (Jet contrails and pollution).
The practice of disregarding expert testimony leads to poor policy and worse. The following article by Cheyenne resident Jim Malcom paints a specific instance of this practice and its effects on Wyoming life.
Wyoming legislature was bought by out of state PACs for $700k. Here are the results.
Who Bought Wyoming
In 2024, Freedom Caucus members swept the state. Who hired them? Make Liberty Win (MLW) spent over $370,000 on races with dubious criticisms of Wyoming Republican incumbents. Its endorsements were targeted to help the Wyoming Freedom Caucus. Americans for Prosperity (AFP) founded by billionaire Charles Koch, spent over $343,000 on the Wyoming primary. Of the 17 AFP endorsed candidates, a dozen won. Many of their key targets, like Dan Zwonitzer and Albert Sommers, were ousted from their offices.
What They Sold Us
What Wyoming received in return is largely known as The Wyoming Freedom Caucus. And they’ve been busy. Last week, multiple news sources had laughs about the conspiracy-driven Wyoming legislation that supported the theory that chemtrails were somehow poisoning Wyoming citizens, sterilizing soils, and blocking the sun. The legislation that is now headed for a vote next year is called the “Clean Air and Geoengineering Prohibition Act.”
Image: Wyoming Freedom Caucus Members
This is an example of the level of competence and focus that these new legislators have brought.
Jeff French, head of The University of Wyoming’s Atmospheric Science Department attended, as a private citizen, the legislative committee where this proposed law was discussed. He explained, “The formation of clouds from jet aircraft is a very well understood phenomenon. Combustion of jet fuel releases water vapor.”
Once upon a time expert testimony like this would have been significant. A state citizen, an expert in his field, and head of the state university’s atmospheric science department. This is prime expert testimony. Members of the committee are not expected to be experts in technical matters, like contrails, and Jeff French’s expertise is important to inform our state legislators the facts without partisan interpretation.
The facts didn’t move the committee. The legislation moved forward, where the full legislative session will consider it early next year.
Let’s consider this piece of legislation, as it reflects both the local and national dynamics of these out of state PAC funded groups.
Out Of State Influences
Newsweek reported that similar conspiracy-driven chemtrail legislation is active in nine other states. Chemtrails, as a legislative point of interest, are not a Wyoming phenomenon. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has speculated that chemtrails are causing “accumulations of aluminum, even in places in very, very remote parts of the earth.” Professor French’s expertise disabuses that opinion very quickly. Other scientists have already considered RFK’s claim and shown it to be false. Politics are no longer what is in the public interest, but what is in the politicians’ minds.
Our Wyoming legislators are being influenced by this national level discourse and in their ignorance are putting it forward as legislation. Worse, our legislators ignore the experts nationally and in our own state that explain that these are literally conspiracy theories and unfounded.
These out-of-state PACs have raised up those who are willing to follow their lead and push legislation that matches their agendas. It does not reflect well upon them as individuals though.
In State Consequences
Some may claim that a little madness is harmless. Who cares if chemicals in chemtrails are outlawed? Let’s consider the wording of the legislation as proposed.
Here are selected passages:
“”Atmospheric contaminant” means any substance intentionally released into the atmosphere for the purpose of altering climate, weather or solar radiation, including but not limited to sulfates, silver iodide, smart dust, perflouroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, genetically modified particles, chaff or radioactive materials.”
“Atmospheric contaminant” shall not mean exhaust from standard aviation using fuels permitted by law, emissions from agricultural or forestry operations permitted by law, fire suppression agents or naturally occurring atmospheric particulates.”
“No person shall intentionally inject, release or disperse by any means any atmospheric contaminant within Wyoming or the airspace above Wyoming for the purpose of altering climate, weather or solar radiation.”
“For a first offense, commits a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than two (2) years, a fine of not less than one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00) and not more than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00), or both.”
The language used here is ambiguous and opens doors that the Wyoming legislature certainly did not intend.
First, the word “intentionally” used in this legislation is suspect. In law, ignorance is not a defense except in very limited circumstances. That wording, how does it apply to this law? Does this mean that the pilot and engineer are not liable for seeding the atmosphere with these dubious chemicals because they can claim they didn’t know their contents, while the person who chartered the flight and directed the chemicals to be expelled isn’t liable either because they didn’t take the action? Arguments like this are why, in law, ignorance is not a valid defense.
Closely related to “intentionally,” is the phrase “for the purpose of,” which means the same thing. Does this mean that weather modification “for the purpose of” laughs is permitted, while “for the purpose of” weather alteration is not? Once again, the wording is suspect. The activity is not prohibited, but only the intention. And what about our military? Is Wyoming going to fine the United States Air Force if one of their aircraft ejects chaff over Wyoming airspace?
Next, carbon dioxide is a federally recognized atmospheric pollutant with weather alteration properties. Power plants, cars, and many other sources of carbon dioxide regularly “inject” this pollutant into the atmosphere. Based on the proposed language, operating an internal combustion engine vehicle could be considered illegal. Somehow, I do not believe that the Wyoming legislature wishes to abolish power generation outside of wind and solar. Neither do I believe that they are trying for a one-year transition to electric vehicles statewide. But if this proposed farce of legislation is passed into law, the results may not be what they intended. Criminalization of internal combustion engines and coal power plants? These are consequences the sponsors should have considered.
From its title through its intent, the “Clean Air and Geoengineering Prohibition Act” is a walking contradiction.
Here is who voted yes to pass this absurdity, why it will be going forward.
- Bob Ide (R), 29, Natrona
- Taft Love (R), 06, Laramie, Platte
- Laura Pearson (R), 14, Lincoln, Subletter, Sweetwater, Uinta
- Pepper Ottman (R), 34, Fremont (Freedom Caucus)
- Tomi Strock (R), 06, Douglas (Freedom Caucus)
- John Winter (R), 28, Cody (Freedom Caucus)
What do these Yes votes have in common? They are all Republican and half of them are Wyoming Freedom Caucus members. It passed as a 6:5 vote with three members absent. These legislators demonstrate thinking skills and disregard for expert advice unworthy of elected Wyoming representatives.
Where They Are Headed
This isn’t the first time this year that the Wyoming legislature has tried to introduce this kind of law. This isn’t the first time this year that the Wyoming legislature has ignored expert testimony and instead pushed their own conspiracy agendas. Earlier this year, following the national Freedom Caucus lead, the Wyoming legislature passed multiple laws based on election fraud conspiracies. There is no evidence that these new laws will stop voter fraud. There is evidence, however, that these new laws will help entrench these politicians’ positions in future elections.
What We Need To Do
This is the kind of law makers that were sold to us by out of state PACs. As Wyoming citizens, we do not deserve this kind of irresponsible lawmaking. We’ve tried the goods. It’s time to return them and hire law makers who can think clearly and aren’t bound to out of state PAC money. If you’re a Republican, primary anyone associated with The Wyoming Freedom Caucus. Run or vote against them. If you’re Independent or Democrat, run for office or back someone running for your district. Otherwise, this out of state funded caucus will continue to run Wyoming into the ground.
Sources:
1. Neff, C. (2025). Out-of-state money and a governor splashing cash – who spent big on Wyoming races. USA TODAY. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/09/04/wyoming-primary-election-money/74849475007/
2. Joint Agriculture, State and Public Lands & Water Resources, October 28, 2025 – AM https://youtu.be/JQPVv4DXyjI
3. Joint Agriculture, State and Public Lands & Water Resources, October 28, 2025 – PM https://youtu.be/b9E6ebK_Ti0
4. Legislative Service Office (2025). Wyoleg.gov https://wyoleg.gov/InterimCommittee/2025/05-2025102826LSO-0211v0.5.pdf
5. Plummer, K. (2025, June 3). Map Shows States Trying to Ban “Chemtrails.” Newsweek. https://www.newsweek.com/chemtrails-legislation-us-map-2079810
6. Tan, C. (2025, October 30). “Chemtrail” conspiracy guides Wyoming “geoengineering” legislation. Wyoming Public Media; WYOMING. https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/natural-resources-energy/2025-10-30/chemtrail-conspiracy-guides-wyoming-geoengineering-legislation
7. Law. (2025, October 23). Is ignorance ever an excuse in law? – Law and Society Magazine. Law and Society Magazine. https://lawandsocietymagazine.com/is-ignorance-ever-an-excuse-in-law/
8. Washington, D. of C. 1800 I. S. N., & Dc 20006. (n.d.). PolitiFact – Yes, carbon dioxide is a pollutant. @Politifact. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2022/may/12/suburban-virginia-republican-coalition/yes-carbon-dioxide-pollutant/
9. Legislative Service Office. (2025). Wyoleg.gov. https://wyoleg.gov/Legislation/2025/HB0208
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