The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set its sights on geo-engineering companies engaging in controversial practices to manipulate Earth’s climate. Specifically, the EPA is targeting startups like Make Sunsets, a Northern California-based company launching balloons filled with sulfur dioxide (SO2) into the stratosphere to reflect sunlight and theoretically cool the planet. This move comes amid growing concerns about unregulated geo-engineering, prompting legislative bans in several U.S. states and Mexico, and raising alarm among farmers whose livelihoods depend on natural weather patterns.
The EPA’s Response to Rogue Climate Interventions
On April 15, 2025, the EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation issued a demand for information to Make Sunsets, criticizing their unauthorized release of sulfur dioxide as an attempt to “geoengineer the planet” while selling dubious “cooling credits” priced at $30 for a subscription or $5 to offset one ton of carbon dioxide. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin condemned the practice, stating, “The idea that individuals, supported by venture capitalists, are putting criteria air pollutants into the air to sell ‘cooling’ credits shows how climate extremism has overtaken common sense.” The agency is now exploring its full authority to ensure clean air standards are upheld, signaling a broader crackdown on unregulated geo-engineering efforts.
Make Sunsets is a startup that is geoengineering by injecting sulfur dioxide into the sky and then selling “cooling credits.” This company is polluting the air we breathe. I’ve instructed my team that we need to quickly get to the bottom of this and take immediate action. pic.twitter.com/9b6xPzMf4v
— Lee Zeldin (@epaleezeldin) April 15, 2025
Make Sunsets, already banned in Mexico for violating national sovereignty with similar balloon launches in 2023, claims to have conducted over 124 deployments. Their operations, which lack oversight or coordination with federal, state, or local air agencies, have raised red flags. The EPA’s action follows years of inaction since the issue was first identified in 2023, highlighting a growing urgency to address these rogue climate interventions.
The Irony of Geo-Engineering as a “Solution” to Climate Change
The irony is not lost on critics: climate activists who decry man-made climate change are now championing deliberate, large-scale interventions to alter the Earth’s atmosphere. Geo-engineering, or solar radiation management, involves injecting particles like sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere to mimic the cooling effects of volcanic eruptions. Proponents argue it could offset global warming, but the practice is fraught with risks, including unpredictable weather changes, ozone depletion, and regional disparities in climate impacts.
Happy New Year! First balloon launches of 2025. We had a special guest, Nick from @freethinkmedia, aka Hard Reset, who helped us launch balloons filled with SO2 and Hydrogen. Follow them for the upcoming video.
We launched 3 balloons that day. Here's the 1st 🎈🧵 pic.twitter.com/C5dL8QZT3b
— Make Sunsets (@MakeSunsets) January 23, 2025
This contradiction—condemning human interference in the climate while promoting artificial climate modification—has fueled skepticism. Critics argue that geo-engineering represents the very “man-made climate change” activists claim to oppose, yet it is being marketed as a solution by startups profiting from untested and potentially dangerous technologies. The lack of scientific consensus and regulatory oversight only amplifies these concerns, prompting swift action from governments.
State and International Bans on Geo-Engineering
The unease surrounding geo-engineering has led to legislative pushback in the United States and beyond. In February 2024, Kentucky passed HB 506, making it a felony offense to conduct geo-engineering operations in the state. In April 2025, the Florida Senate passed SB-56, known as the “chemtrails bill,” by a vote of 28-9. The legislation prohibits “the injection, release, or dispersion, by any means, of a chemical, a chemical compound, a substance, or an apparatus into the atmosphere” to affect temperature, weather, climate, or sunlight intensity. Violators face third-degree felony charges and fines up to $100,000. While the Florida House softened the bill to allow licensed weather modification, Governor Ron DeSantis emphasized, “We’re not playing that game in Florida.”
Other states are following suit. Legislation to ban or regulate geo-engineering has been introduced or is under consideration in states like Tennessee and New Hampshire, reflecting growing public and political unease with unchecked climate experiments. These measures often cite the need to protect public health, environmental integrity, and state sovereignty from untested interventions.
Mexico has taken an even stronger stance. In January 2023, the Mexican government banned solar geo-engineering after Make Sunsets launched balloons without authorization, prompting outrage over violations of national airspace. Mexico is now drafting new regulations to prohibit such activities and plans to rally other nations to follow suit, signaling a global push to curb rogue geo-engineering.
Farmers’ Fears: The Threat of Sun-Blocking Technologies
Perhaps no group is more alarmed by geo-engineering than farmers, whose livelihoods hinge on predictable sunlight, rainfall, and temperature patterns. Efforts to block sunlight through solar radiation management could disrupt photosynthesis, reduce crop yields, and alter precipitation patterns critical for agriculture. Studies suggest that large-scale geo-engineering could lead to uneven climate impacts, potentially causing droughts in some regions while flooding others, with devastating consequences for food production.
Farmers already grappling with natural climate variability view these artificial interventions as a reckless gamble. For example, sulfur dioxide injections could lower temperatures but also acidify soils and waterways, further stressing agricultural systems. The lack of transparency from companies like Make Sunsets—whose balloons’ launch sites and sulfur sources remain unclear—only heightens these concerns. Rural communities, particularly in states like Florida with strong agricultural sectors, are rallying behind bans to protect their way of life.
The Bigger Picture: Regulation and Accountability
The EPA’s investigation into Make Sunsets marks a pivotal moment in the debate over geo-engineering. While some scientists advocate for controlled research into solar radiation management, the unregulated actions of startups have underscored the need for oversight. The controversy also highlights a broader tension in climate policy: the rush to implement high-tech solutions versus the need for caution and accountability. Critics argue that regenerative agriculture, reforestation, and emissions reductions—approaches that work with natural systems—offer safer paths to address climate challenges without the risks of geo-engineering. Yet these solutions often receive less attention because they lack the corporate backing and profit potential of technologies like solar radiation management.
Conclusion: A Call for Prudence
The EPA’s crackdown on geo-engineering companies like Make Sunsets reflects a growing recognition of the dangers posed by unregulated climate interventions. As states like Florida and countries like Mexico enact bans, the message is clear: deliberate manipulation of the Earth’s atmosphere cannot proceed without rigorous oversight and public consent. For farmers and communities dependent on stable climates, the stakes are too high to allow rogue actors to gamble with the planet’s future.
The irony of climate activists embracing man-made climate change (geo-engineering) as a solution to supposedly man-made climate change underscores the need for a critical re-examination of climate strategies. Rather than doubling down on risky technologies, policymakers and scientists must prioritize transparent, nature-based solutions toward a cleaner world that respect the delicate balance of Earth’s ecosystems. As the EPA takes action, the world watches to see whether this marks the beginning of a broader reckoning with the perils of geo-engineering.