2 days ago
Researchers quietly planned a major test to dim sunlight, records show
'The Moore Foundation is not involved in the Marine Cloud Brightening Program,' said Holly Potter, a spokesperson for the charity, adding that 'solar geoengineering research in not a focus of the foundation's work.'
The program pitched Quadrature and other donors on the idea that its need for private philanthropy was only temporary. Public support would eventually arrive for solar geoengineering research, the team argued.
In a 2021 update for supporters, the team said it had received $1 million over two years from NOAA and the Department of Energy for modeling studies and had begun work on the modified snow-making machine that the researchers would later test in Alameda. That technology is also being used in a field trial along the Great Barrier Reef that's funded in part by the Australian government.
At the same time, the donor report acknowledged the potential for 'public perception challenges' like those that would later short-circuit the Alameda field test. 'The MCB Program is well-positioned both in terms of its government ties, scientific analogues and careful positioning to move forward successfully, but this remains a risk.'
The plan for Alameda included elements to engage the public. The deck of the USS Hornet, which is now a naval museum, remained open to visitors.
But the team relied on museum staff to manage relations with Alameda leaders and carefully controlled the information it provided to the public, according to the documents provided by the University of Washington that included communications among the program leaders.
'We think it's safest to get air quality review help and are pursuing that in advance of engaging, but I'd avoid scaring them overly,' said an Aug. 23, 2023, text message before a meeting with Hornet officials. 'We want them to work largely on the assumption that things are a go.' No names were attached to the messages.
Then in November 2023, a climate solutions reporter from National Public Radio was planning to visit the headquarters of SRI for a story about the importance of aerosols research. A communications strategist who worked for SilverLining at the time emailed the team a clear directive: 'There will be no mention of the study taking place in Alameda,' wrote Jesus Chavez, the founder of the public relations firm Singularity Media, in bold, underlined text. (Chavez didn't respond to a request for comment.)
A November 2023 email from a SilverLining communications strategist to the team, directing them to not mention the Alameda study to an NPR reporter who was covering the Marine Cloud Brightening Program. | University of Washington
At the same time, the program was closely coordinating with government scientists, documents show.
The head of NOAA's chemical sciences division was one of three 'VIPs' who were scheduled to visit the headquarters of SRI for a demonstration of a cloud-making machine, according to a December 2023 email from Wanser of SilverLining. Other guests included a dean from the University of Washington and an official from the private investment office of billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates, a long-time supporter of geoengineering research. (Gates Ventures didn't respond to a request for comment.)
