quote: "We are calling this 'hygroelectricity,' meaning 'humidity electricity'." ... "Galembeck said that a similar approach might help prevent lightning from f

quote: "We are calling this 'hygroelectricity,' meaning 'humidity electricity'." ... "Galembeck said that a similar approach might help prevent lightning from forming and striking. He envisioned placing hygroelectrical panels on top of buildings in regions that experience frequent thunderstorms. The panels would drain electricity out of the air, and prevent the building of electrical charge that is released in lightning." Harvesting lightning. This sounds like a pretty cool idea if it can be done. I'm not a meteorologist but I wonder what role the electric buildup in a storm plays in the process of normal precipitation? Would draining the charge from a storm have unintended environmental effects?