A California technology company conducted a cloud-seeding test over the Kenai Peninsula in late August, according to reports published this week. Rainmaker Technology Corp. said its drones released silver iodide into clouds near Homer on August 23 and produced an estimated 19 million gallons of additional precipitation, mostly as rain in lower elevations and snow at higher elevations.

The company reported using less than one pound of silver iodide across multiple short flights. It stated the chemical levels resulting on the ground were far below federal drinking-water thresholds. Local officials and some residents said they received no prior notice of the operation. State Representative Sarah Vance and other local leaders have called for greater transparency and review of private weather-modification activity in the region.

Rainmaker said it coordinated with the Alaska Department of Natural Resources and obtained permission from landowners at its launch sites. The company described the flights as research and development to refine its drone platform and measurement methods. The Alaska Beacon and Anchorage Press first detailed the local reaction this week. No formal state enforcement action has been announced as of September 10.

Cloud seeding involves dispersing particles into suitable clouds to encourage ice formation and precipitation. The practice has a long history in the western United States for water-supply augmentation. Officials on the Kenai Peninsula have asked for clearer rules before any further tests occur.

SOURCES
Alaska Beacon / Anchorage Press — https://alaskabeacon.com/2026/09/08/a-california-cloud-seeding-company-created-rain-near-homer-and-an-uproar/
Alaska Public Media — https://alaskapublic.org/news/2026-09-10/a-california-based-company-made-it-rain-near-homer-locals-say-they-were-blindsided