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State of California November 4, 2008 Election
Proposition 7
Renewable Energy Generation
State of California

Initiative Statute - Majority Approval Required

Fail: 4,376,814 / 35.4% Yes votes ...... 7,984,617 / 64.6% No votes

See Also: Index of all Propositions

Results as of Nov 26 1:08pm, 100.0% of Precincts Reporting (25423/25423)
Information shown below: Summary | Fiscal Impact | Yes/No Meaning | Impartial Analysis | Arguments | Full Text

Shall government-owned utilities be required to generate 20% of their electricity from renewable energy by 2010, a standard currently applicable to private electrical corporations? Shall all utilities be required to generate 40% by 2020 and 50% by 2025?

Summary Prepared by the State Attorney General:

  • Requires utilities, including government-owned utilities, to generate 20% of their power from renewable energy by 2010, a standard currently applicable only to private electrical corporations.
  • Raises requirement for utilities to 40% by 2020 and 50% by 2025.
  • Imposes penalties, subject to waiver, for noncompliance.
  • Transfers some jurisdiction of regulatory matters from Public Utilities Commission to Energy Commission.
  • Fast-tracks approval for new renewable energy plants.
  • Requires utilities to sign longer contracts (20 year minimum) to procure renewable energy. Creates account to purchase rights-of-way and facilities for the transmission of renewable energy.

Fiscal Impact from the Legislative Analyst:
Increased state administrative costs up to $3.4 million annually, paid by fees. Unknown impact on state and local government costs and revenues due to the measure's uncertain impact on retail electricity rates.

Meaning of Voting Yes/No
A YES vote on this measure means:
Electricity providers in California, including publicly owned utilities, would be required to increase their proportion of electricity generated from renewable resources, such as solar and wind power, beyond the current requirement of 20 percent by 2010, to 40 percent by 2020 and 50 percent by 2025, or face specified penalties. The requirement for privately owned electricity providers to acquire renewable electricity would be limited by a cost cap requiring such acquisitions only when the cost is no more than 10 percent above a specified market price for electricity. Electricity providers who fail to meet the renewable resources requirements would potentially be subject to a 1 cent per kilowatt hour penalty rate set in statute, without a cap on the total annual penalty amount. The required time frames for approving new renewable electricity plants would be shortened.

A NO vote on this measure means:
Electricity providers in California, except publicly owned ones, would continue to be required to increase their proportion of electricity generated from renewable resources to 20 percent by 2010. The current requirements on privately owned utilities to purchase renewable electricity would continue to be limited by an annual cost cap on the total amount of such purchases. Electricity providers would continue to be subject to the existing penalty process, in which the penalty rate (currently 5 cents per kilowatt-hour) and a total annual penalty cap (currently $25 million per provider) are set administratively. The required time frames for approving new renewable electricity plants would not be shortened.

Impartial Analysis from the Legislative Analyst
BACKGROUND

California Electricity Providers

Californians generally receive electricity service from one of three types of providers:

  • Investor-owned utilities (IOUs), which provide 68 percent of retail electricity service.
  • Local, publicly owned utilities, which provide 24 percent of retail electricity service.
  • Electric service providers (ESPs), which provide 8 percent of retail electricity service. (See the nearby text box for definitions of commonly used terms throughout this analysis.)

Investor-Owned Utilities. The IOUs are owned by private investors and provide electricity service for profit. The state's three largest electricity IOUs are Pacific Gas and Electric, Southern California Edison, and San Diego Gas and Electric. Each IOU has a unique, defined geographic service area. State law requires each IOU to provide electricity service to customers within its service area. The rates that IOUs can charge their customers are determined by the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC). In addition, PUC regulates how IOUs provide electricity service to their customers. These conditions on electricity rates and service are known as "terms of service."

Commonly Used Terms--Proposition 7
Energy Commission (Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission). The state agency that forecasts energy supply and demand, implements energy conservation programs, conducts energy-related research, and permits certain power plants.

ESP (Electric Service Provider). A company that provides electricity service directly to customers who have chosen not to receive service from the utility that serves their geographic area.

IOU (Investor-Owned Utility). A privately owned electric utility that has a defined geographic service area and is required by state law to serve customers in that area. The Public Utilities Commission regulates the IOU's rates and terms of service.

Market Price of Electricity. A benchmark price of electricity that is determined by a state agency according to a definition and criteria specified in state law.

Publicly Owned Utility. A local government agency, governed by a board--either elected by the public or appointed by a local elected body--that provides electricity service in its local area.

PUC (Public Utilities Commission). The state agency that regulates various types of utilities, including IOUs and ESPs.

RPS (Renewables Portfolio Standard). Requirement that electricity providers increase their share of electricity from renewable resources (such as wind or solar power) according to a specified time line.

Publicly Owned Utilities. A publicly owned electric utility is a local government agency, governed by a board--either elected by the public or appointed by a local elected body--that provides electricity service in its local area. Publicly owned electric utilities are not regulated by PUC. Rather, they set their own terms of service. California's major publicly owned electric utilities include the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and the Sacramento Municipal Utility District.

Electric Service Providers. The ESPs provide electricity service to customers who have chosen not to receive service from the utility that serves their geographic area. Instead, these customers have entered into "direct access" contracts with ESPs. Under a direct access contract, an ESP delivers electricity to the customer through the local utility's electricity transmission wires.

There are currently around 20 registered ESPs in the state. These ESPs generally serve large industrial and commercial customers. The ESPs also provide electricity to some state and local government agencies, such as several University of California campuses and some local school districts.

The state's regulatory authority over ESPs is limited. Although the PUC does not set an ESP's terms of service, including the rates it charges its customers, it does require ESPs to meet a limited set of requirements, including proof that they have enough electricity supply to meet demand.

Electricity Infrastructure

Major Components. Four principal components comprise California's system for generating and delivering electricity:

  • Electricity generating facilities.
  • The interstate electricity transmission grid.
  • Electricity transmission lines that tie generation facilities to the grid.
  • Electricity distribution lines that connect the electricity grid to electricity consumers. Regulatory responsibility for permitting this infrastructure is held by one or more federal, state, and local agencies, depending on the particular project.

Permitting Authority. Permitting authority for an electricity generating facility is determined by the type and size of the facility to be operated. For example, hydroelectric generating facilities, such as dams, are permitted by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Thermal electricity generating facilities--primarily natural gas-fired power plants--capable of generating 50 megawatts or more of electricity are issued permits by the state's Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission). Most other electricity generating facilities--including many types of renewable energy generating facilities, such as wind turbines and nonthermal solar power plants--are permitted by local government.

Permitting authority over electricity transmission lines depends upon the function of the line to be built, as well as the type of electricity provider that will own the line. Depending upon its function and ownership, a line may be permitted by FERC, the Energy Commission, PUC, or local government.

Energy Commission's Permit Processing Time Frames. Existing law defines the time frames within which the Energy Commission must approve or deny an application to construct and operate an electricity generating facility or transmission line under its jurisdiction. Those time frames are 18 months for most applications, or 12 months for applications meeting certain conditions.

Energy From Renewable Resources

Renewables Portfolio Standard. Current law requires IOUs and ESPs to increase the amount of electricity they acquire (from their own sources or purchased from others) that is generated from renewable resources, such as solar and wind power. This requirement is known as the renewables portfolio standard (RPS). Each electricity provider subject to the RPS must increase its share of electricity generated from eligible renewable resources by at least 1 percent each year so that, by the end of 2010, 20 percent of its electricity comes from renewable sources. (As discussed later, publicly owned utilities are subject to a different renewable energy requirement.)

IOU Obligations Under the RPS Limited by a Cost Cap. Current law limits the amount of renewable electricity an IOU is required to acquire under the RPS, regardless of the annual RPS targets that apply to the IOU. The limit is based on two cost-related factors:

  • The "market price of electricity," as that price is defined by PUC according to criteria specified in state law.
  • The amount of money that would have been collected from electricity ratepayers under a previously operating state program to subsidize the cost of renewable electricity.

An IOU is required to acquire renewable electricity even at a cost that exceeds the PUC-defined market price of electricity. An IOU that does not acquire sufficient amounts of renewable electricity may face monetary penalties. However, an IOU is required to acquire such higher-cost renewable electricity only to the extent that the above-market costs are less than the amount of funds that the IOU would have collected under the previously operating state subsidy program. In this way, current law caps the annual cost of complying with the RPS, both to IOUs and to their customers who ultimately pay these costs through rates charged to them.

Enforcing the RPS. Current law requires PUC to enforce IOU and ESP compliance with the RPS. Only the IOUs are required to submit plans that describe how they will meet RPS targets at the least possible cost. In addition, IOUs and ESPs generally must offer contracts to purchase renewable resources of no less than ten years.

The PUC may fine an IOU or an ESP that fails to meet its year-to-year RPS target. The PUC has set the amount of the penalties at 5 cents per kilowatt hour by which the IOU or ESP falls short of its RPS target. The PUC has capped the total amount of penalties an IOU or ESP can be charged in a year at $25 million. Current law does not direct the use of these penalty monies, which generally are deposited in the state General Fund.

Publicly Owned Utilities Set Their Own Renewable Energy Standards. Current law does not require publicly owned utilities to meet the same RPS that other electricity providers are required to meet. Rather, current law directs each publicly owned utility to put in place and enforce its own renewables portfolio standard and allows each publicly owned utility to define the electricity sources that it counts as renewable. No state agency enforces publicly owned utility compliance or places penalties on a publicly owned utility that fails to meet the renewable energy goals it has set for itself.

Progress Towards Meeting the State's RPS Goal. The different types of electricity providers vary in their progress towards achieving the state's RPS goal of having 20 percent of electricity generated from renewable sources by 2010. As of 2006 (the last year for which data are available), the IOUs together had 13 percent of their electricity generated from renewable resources. The ESPs had 2 percent of their electricity generated from those same types of resources. Using their own, various definitions of "renewable resources," the publicly owned utilities together had nearly 12 percent of their electricity generated from renewable resources. If the current definition of renewable resources in state law that applies to IOUs and ESPs (which does not include large hydroelectric dams, for example) is applied to the publicly owned utilities, their renewable resources count falls to just over 7 percent as of 2006. However, in recent years, publicly owned utilities have increased their renewable electricity deliveries at a faster rate than have the IOUs, according to data compiled by the Energy Commission.

PROPOSAL

Overview of Measure

This measure makes a number of changes regarding RPS and the permitting of electricity generating facilities and transmission lines. Primarily, the measure:

  • Establishes additional, higher RPS targets for electricity providers.
  • Makes RPS requirements enforceable on publicly owned utilities.
  • Changes the process for defining "market price of electricity."
  • Changes the cost cap provisions that limit electricity provider obligations under the RPS.
  • Expands scope of RPS enforcement.
  • Revises RPS-related contracting period and obligations.
  • Sets a lower penalty rate in statute and removes the cap on the total penalty amount for failure to meet RPS requirements.
  • Directs the use of RPS penalty revenues.
  • Expands Energy Commission's permitting authority.

Each of these components is described below.

Individual Components of Measure

Establishes Additional, Higher RPS Targets. The measure adds two new, higher RPS targets--40 percent by 2020 and 50 percent by 2025. Each electricity provider would need to meet the targets by increasing the share of electricity that it acquires that is generated from renewable energy by at least 2 percent a year, rather than the current 1 percent per year. The measure eliminates the requirement under current law that an electricity provider compensate for failure to meet an RPS target in any given year by procuring additional renewable energy in subsequent years.

Makes RPS Requirements Enforceable on Publicly Owned Utilities. The measure requires publicly owned utilities generally to comply with the same RPS as required of IOUs and ESPs, including the current RPS goal to increase to 20 percent by 2010 the proportion of each electricity provider's electricity that comes from renewable resources. The measure also gives the Energy Commission authority to enforce RPS requirements on publicly owned utilities. The measure, however, specifies that the Energy Commission does not have the authority to approve or disapprove a publicly owned utility's renewable resources energy contract, including its terms or conditions.

Changes Process for Defining "Market Price of Electricity." The measure makes two major changes in how the market price of electricity is defined for purposes of implementing the RPS. First, the measure shifts from PUC to the Energy Commission responsibility for determining the market price of electricity. Second, the measure adds three new criteria to current-law requirements that the Energy Commission would need to consider when defining the market price of electricity. These criteria include consideration of the value and benefits of renewable resources.

Changes the Cost Cap Provisions That Limit Electricity Provider Obligations Under the RPS. As under current law, the measure provides a cost cap to limit the amount of potentially higher-cost renewable electricity that an IOU must acquire regardless of the annual RPS targets. The measure extends the cost cap limit to ESPs as well. The measure requires that an electricity provider acquire renewable electricity towards meeting annual RPS targets, or face monetary penalties, only as long as the cost of such electricity is no more than 10 percent above the Energy Commission-defined market price for electricity. The potentially higher cost of electricity generated from renewable resources would be recovered by IOUs and ESPs through rates charged to their customers, but subject to this 10 percent cost cap. Publicly owned utilities also could recover these potentially higher costs through rates charged to their customers. However, the costs of publicly owned utilities would not be subject to a cost cap similar to that which applies to IOUs and ESPs.

Expands Scope of RPS Enforcement. The measure expands PUC's current RPS-related enforcement mechanisms over IOUs to encompass ESPs. The enforcement mechanisms include review and adoption of renewable resources procurement plans, related rate-setting authority, and penalty authority. The measure grants to the Energy Commission similar RPS-related enforcement authority over publicly owned utilities.

Revises RPS-Related Contracting Period and Obligations. The measure requires all electricity providers--including publicly owned utilities--to offer renewable energy procurement contracts of no less than 20 years, with certain exceptions. The measure further requires an electricity provider to accept all offers for renewable energy that are at or below the market price of electricity as defined by the Energy Commission.

Sets Lower Penalty Rate in Statute and Removes Cap on Total Penalty Amount. The measure includes a formula to determine monetary penalties for an electricity provider that fails to sign contracts for sufficient amounts of renewable energy. The penalty formula is 1 cent per kilowatt hour by which the provider falls short of the applicable RPS target. The measure's formula therefore reflects a penalty rate that is lower than the 5 cents per kilowatt hour penalty rate currently established by the PUC. However, the measure also specifies that neither PUC nor the Energy Commission shall cap the total amount of penalties that may be placed on an electricity provider in any given year.

In addition, the measure states that no electricity provider shall recover the cost of any penalties through rates paid by its customers. However, it is unclear how this prohibition will apply to publicly owned utilities. This is because publicly owned utilities typically have no other source of revenues which could be used to pay a penalty other than rates paid by their customers.

Finally, the measure also specifies the conditions under which PUC or the Energy Commission, as applicable, may waive the statutorily prescribed penalty, such as when the electricity provider demonstrates a "good faith effort" to meet the RPS.

Directs Use of Penalty Monies. The measure directs that any RPS-related penalties (along with other specified revenues) be used to facilitate, through property or right-of-way acquisition and construction of transmission facilities, development of transmission infrastructure necessary to achieve RPS. The measure specifies that the Energy Commission will hold title to any properties acquired with such funds.

Expands Energy Commission's Permitting Authority. The measure expands the Energy Commission's existing permitting authority in two major ways, not limited to the RPS. Specifically, the measure:

  • Grants the Energy Commission the authority to permit new nonthermal renewable energy power plants capable of producing 30 megawatts of electricity or more. The new permitting authority would include related infrastructure, such as electricity transmission lines that unite the plant with the transmission network grid. Currently, this permitting authority rests with local governments.
  • Gives the Energy Commission the authority to permit IOUs to construct new transmission lines within the electricity transmission grid, currently a responsibility solely of the PUC at the state level. It is unclear, however, whether the measure has removed PUC's authority in giving it to the Energy Commission.

The measure specifies that the Energy Commission is to issue a permit for a qualifying renewable energy plant or related facility within six months of the filing of an application. However, the commission is not required to issue the permit within the six-month time frame if there is evidence that the facility would cause significant harm to the environment or the electrical system or in some way does not comply with legal or other specified standards.

Declares Limited Impact on Ratepayer Electricity Bills. In its findings and declarations, the measure states that, in the "short term," California's investment in solar and clean energy (which would include the implementation of the measure) will result in no more than a 3-percent increase in electricity rates for consumers. However, the measure includes no specific provisions to implement or enforce this declaration.

FISCAL EFFECTS

State and Local Administrative Impacts

Increased Energy Commission Costs. The measure will increase the annual administrative costs of the Energy Commission by approximately $2.4 million due to new responsibilities and expansion of existing duties. Under current law, the additional costs would be funded by fees paid by electricity customers.

The measure gives the Energy Commission new responsibilities which currently are carried out by PUC--namely, defining the market price of electricity and permitting IOU-related transmission lines. However, significant offsetting reductions in PUC's costs may not result under this measure. This is because the measure does not amend the State Constitution to delete from PUC's portfolio of responsibilities those which are given to the Energy Commission. To the extent PUC continues to carry out its existing duties, there likely will not be offsetting savings to PUC.

Increased PUC Costs. In addition, the measure's other requirements will increase annual administrative costs of the PUC by up to $1 million. These additional costs will result from greater workload related to the increased RPS targets. Under current law, these additional costs would be funded by fees paid by electricity customers.

Uncertain Effect on Local Government Administrative Costs. The measure shifts from local government to the Energy Commission responsibility for permitting certain renewable energy facilities. As a consequence, the measure will result in administrative cost savings of an unknown amount to local governments. However, local governments may face new costs associated with representing their interests at Energy Commission proceedings to permit renewable energy facilities. It is uncertain whether, on balance, savings to local governments will outweigh costs resulting from this measure. In any event, the overall net impact on local government administrative costs statewide is likely to be minor.

State and Local Government Costs and Revenues

The primary fiscal effect of this measure on state and local governments would result from any effect it would have on electricity rates. As discussed below, changes in electricity rates would affect both government costs and revenues.

Unknown Effect on State and Local Government Costs

Overview. Changes in electricity rates would affect government costs since state and local governments are large consumers of electricity. It is unknown, however, how the measure will affect electricity rates, both in the short term and in the longer term. This is because it is difficult to predict the relative prices of renewable resources and those of conventional electricity sources, such as natural gas. The measure could result in higher or lower electricity rates from what they would otherwise be.

Short Term. We conclude that the prospects for higher electricity rates are more likely in the short term, based on a comparison of current cost factors for key renewable resources with those for conventional resources. These cost factors include the cost of facility construction and technology, as well as day-to-day operational costs, which include the cost of inputs into the electricity generation process such as fuel. Over the short term at least, these cost factors are more likely to keep the cost of electricity generated from renewable resources, and hence the rates paid by electricity customers for that electricity, above the cost of electricity generated from conventional resources. However, the potential for higher electricity rates to the customer, including state and local governments, might be limited by the measure. This is because the measure caps the cost that privately owned electricity providers must pay for electricity from renewable resources. The cap will be set in relation to the market price of electricity, which will be determined by the Energy Commission. However, because the measure allows the commission substantial discretion in determining the market price of electricity, it is uncertain how the commission will set this cap. In turn, the effect of the cap on the price of electricity paid by customers is unknown.

Long Term. In the long run, there are factors that may be affected by the measure that have the potential either to increase or to decrease electricity rates from what they otherwise would be. For example, to the extent that the measure advances development of renewable energy resources in a manner that lowers their costs, electricity customers might experience longer-term savings. On the other hand, the same cost factors that could lead to short-term electricity rates that are higher might also lead to higher long-run electricity rates. To the extent that the measure requires electricity providers to acquire more costly electricity than they otherwise would, they will experience longer-term cost increases. It is unknown whether, on balance, factors that could increase electricity rates over the long term will outweigh those that could decrease electricity rates over the long term. Therefore, the long-term effect of the measure on government costs is unknown.

Unknown Effect on State and Local Government Revenues

Overview. State and local revenues also would be affected by the measure's impact on electricity rates. This is for two reasons. First, some local governments charge a tax on the cost of electricity use within their boundaries. To the extent that the measure results in an increase or a decrease in electricity rates compared to what they would be otherwise, there would be a corresponding increase or decrease in these local tax revenues. Second, tax revenues received by governments are affected by business profits, personal income, and taxable sales--all of which in turn are affected by what individuals and businesses pay for electricity. Higher electricity costs will lower government revenues, while lower electricity costs will raise these revenues.

Short Term. On balance, as explained above, we believe that the prospects for electricity rates that are higher than they would otherwise be are more likely in the short term. However, as also is the case with state and local government costs, the measure's potential to lower state and local government revenues due to higher electricity rates might be limited by the measure's cost cap provision. Thus, for the short term, to the extent that the measure results in higher electricity rates from what they would otherwise be, local utility user tax revenues would increase and state and local sales and income tax revenues would decrease. The overall short-term net effect of the measure on state and local revenues is unknown.

Long Term. As for the long run, as explained above, the measure has the potential to either increase or decrease electricity rates. Because the measure's effect on long-term electricity rates is unknown, the measure's effect on long-term government revenues is also unknown.

Arguments Submitted to the Secretary of State

Summary of Arguments FOR Proposition 7:
Vote Yes on 7 to require all utilities to provide 50% renewable electricity by 2025. Support solar, wind, and geothermal power to combat rising energy costs and global warming. Proposition 7 protects consumers, and favors solar and clean energy over expensive fossil fuels and dangerous offshore drilling.

Summary of Arguments AGAINST Proposition 7:
Prop. 7: opposed by leading environmental groups, renewable power providers, taxpayers, business, and labor. 7 is poorly drafted, results in less renewable power, higher electric rates, and potentially another energy crisis. 7 forces small renewable companies out of California's market. Power providers could always charge 10% above market rates. http://www.NoProp7.com
Contact FOR Proposition 7:
Jim Gonzalez
Californians for Solar and Clean
Energy
1830 N Street
Sacramento, CA 95811
(916) 444-2425 / 449-6190
jim@jimgonzalez.com
http://www.Yeson7.net

Contact AGAINST Proposition 7:
Californians Against Another Costly
Energy Scheme
(866) 811-9255
http://www.NoProp7.com

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Arguments For Proposition 7 Arguments Against Proposition 7
Vote Yes on Proposition 7.

We can do better than dirty coal, nuclear power, and offshore drilling.

Proposition 7, The Solar and Clean Energy Act, requires all utilities to provide more solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, tidal, and small hydroelectric energy. Renewable energy standards are increased 2% per year, over seventeen years, so that half of our electricity will come from cleaner and cheaper sources by 2025.

Proposition 7 is a balanced solution that will reduce the rising costs of energy, and limit the dangers of global warming, including increased wildfires, water shortages, threats to endangered species, and illnesses from heat induced pollution.

Proposition 7 was carefully written and reviewed by legal, energy, and environmental experts.

Proposition 7 requires the California Energy Commission to designate solar and clean energy production zones, primarily in our vast deserts.

Vote Yes on Proposition 7 to:

  • Make California the world leader in clean power technology.
  • Help create over 370,000 new high wage jobs. Proposition 7 meets all environmental protections, including:
  • The California Environmental Quality Act.
  • The Desert Protection Act.
  • Local Government Reviews.

Vote Yes on Proposition 7 to help grow a strong market for large, and small, solar and renewable energy businesses. California firms have developed this proven technology that will meet our present and future electricity needs.

The independent, nonpartisan California Legislative Analyst found that administration of Proposition 7's renewable energy standards would only cost three and a half million dollars. Also, if the utilities fail to meet renewable energy standards, utilities are prohibited from passing on penalty costs to consumers.

Proposition 7's shift to solar and clean energy is guaranteed to never add more than 3% per year to our electricity bills.

So, why are the utilities spending tens of millions of dollars on "greenwashing" propaganda; sponsoring political parties; and partnering with select environmental groups to mislead us?

Because California's electric utilities have a dirty little secret:

Most of California's electricity comes from burning coal and fossil fuels.

Experts agree that 40% of global warming pollution comes from this type of electricity generation.

Electricity from dirty power plants, owned, operated, or transmitted by California utilities, releases 107 million metric tons of greenhouse gas pollution each year. That makes California the world's 16th largest global warming polluter. (Half of Los Angeles' electricity is generated with out-of-state coal.)

Remember, the utilities botched the 2001 energy crisis; then paid their top executives million dollar bonuses.

Vote Yes on Proposition 7.

  • Energy from the sun, wind, tides, and heat from the earth will always be clean, free, safe, and unlimited.
  • Expensive fossil fuels, oil and gas drilling, and dangerous nuclear power, will cost Californians more.

We need to do something major and environmentally smart, to stop global warming pollution.

Let's stop relying on foreign oil, and imported energy, so that future generations can live in peace.

California is especially blessed with renewable energy resources.

We can lead the world in clean energy!

Vote Yes on Proposition 7. http://www.solarandcleanenergy.org

DR. DONALD W. AITKEN, Ph.D., Renewable Energy Scientist
Los Angeles County

JOHN L. BURTON, California State Senate

President Pro Tem (Ret.)

JIM GONZALEZ, Chair
Californians for Solar and Clean Energy

Rebuttal to Arguments For
WHO DO YOU BELIEVE?

The statement above is signed by only a few individuals. But Prop. 7 is OPPOSED by dozens of organizations, representing millions of Californians, leading the fight for more renewable power and against global warming, including:

  • California Solar Energy Industries Association
  • California League of Conservation Voters
  • Natural Resources Defense Council
  • Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies
  • Environmental Defense Fund
  • Union of Concerned Scientists

These organizations carefully reviewed Proposition 7 and concluded it's fatally flawed, ridden with loopholes, and will slam the brakes on renewable power development. To effectively fight global warming, we must get the solutions right. Prop. 7 gets it all wrong.

That's why 7 is also OPPOSED by:

  • California Taxpayers' Association
  • California Democratic Party
  • California Republican Party
  • Consumers Coalition of California
  • Dozens of environmental, taxpayer, labor, senior, utilities, and business organizations.

READ THE FINE PRINT

It doesn't matter what proponents claim their measure will do. What matters is what's in the actual proposition.

  • Prop. 7 forces small renewable energy companies out of California's market, eliminating competition and thousands of jobs.
  • There is NO LANGUAGE in the text of 7 that limits increases in our electricity bills.
  • Prop. 7 allows power providers to always charge 10% above market price of power, stifling competition for renewable energy.
  • Prop. 7 will cost us hundreds of millions of dollars in higher electricity and taxpayer costs, will not achieve its goals, and will stall efforts to substitute renewables for more expensive power.

VOTE NO on 7! http://www.NoProp7.com

TOM ADAMS, Board President
California League of Conservation Voters

GARY T. GERBER, President
Sun Light & Power

BETTY JO TOCCOLI, President
California Small Business Association

Wind, solar, and other renewable power providers; environmental, consumer, and taxpayer groups; business and labor; and global warming scientists all OPPOSE Proposition 7.

Prop. 7--paid for by an Arizona billionaire with no energy expertise--is a deeply flawed measure that will:

  • NOT achieve its stated goals and will actually disrupt renewable power development.
  • Shut small renewable energy companies out of California's market.
  • Unnecessarily increase electric bills and taxpayer costs by hundreds of millions of dollars, without achieving its stated goals.
  • Create market conditions that could lead to another energy crisis.

PROP. 7 FORCES SMALL WIND AND SOLAR ENERGY COMPANIES OUT OF THE MARKET.

Prop. 7 contains a competition elimination provision shutting smaller renewable energy companies out of California's market. Renewable power from plants under 30 megawatts won't count toward meeting the law. Today, nearly 60 percent of contracts under California's renewable requirements are with these small providers.

"Proposition 7 would devastate California's small solar businesses by forcing us out of the market--eliminating a major source of clean power and thousands of jobs."-- Sue Kateley, Executive Director, California Solar Energy Industries Association

PROP. 7 ALLOWS ENERGY PRICES TO BE CONTINUALLY LOCKED IN AT 10% ABOVE MARKET RATES AND LIMITS COMPETITION.

Proposition 7 allows power providers to always charge 10% above the market price of power, stifling competition for renewable power.

And nothing in Prop. 7 limits increases in our electric bills.

PROP. 7 DISRUPTS THE RENEWABLES MARKET AND COSTS CONSUMERS AND TAXPAYERS HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

"Prop. 7 has many troubling provisions that will significantly increase costs for electricity consumers and harm the California economy." -- Philip Romero, Ph.D., Former Chief Economist, California Office of Planning and Research

"Prop. 7's flawed provisions will disrupt renewable power development, unnecessarily drive up costs, and stall efforts to substitute clean power for more expensive energy sources." -- Sheryl Carter, Energy Program Co-Director, Natural Resources Defense Council

"Proposition 7 would lead to more bureaucracy and red tape and cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars." -- Teresa Casazza, President, California Taxpayers' Association

WE'RE STILL PAYING FOR THE LAST ENERGY CRISIS.

Prop. 7 will create market conditions ripe for manipulation, much like ENRON took advantage of consumers during the energy crisis.

"California consumers are still paying almost $1 billion each year--nearly $100 for every electricity customer--for the last energy crisis. We don't need a poorly-written measure that will lead to another energy crisis and higher electric bills." -- Betty Jo Toccoli, President, California Small Business Association

OPPOSED BY LEADING ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS AND RENEWABLE POWER PROVIDERS.

California leads the nation with clean energy standards requiring utilities to significantly increase renewable power, and we're expanding those efforts. Prop. 7 jeopardizes this progress.

Organizations leading the fight against global warming all OPPOSE Prop. 7:

  • California League of Conservation Voters
  • California Solar Energy Industries Association
  • Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies
  • Environmental Defense Fund
  • Natural Resources Defense Council
  • Union of Concerned Scientists

Vote NO on Prop. 7. http://www.NoProp7.com

SUE KATELEY, Executive Director
California Solar Energy Industries Association

TOM ADAMS, Board President
California League of Conservation Voters

TERESA CASAZZA, President
California Taxpayers' Association

Rebuttal to Arguments Against
THE FOR-PROFIT UTILITY COMPANIES OPPOSE PROPOSITION 7

BIG MONEY IS BEING USED AGAINST A PROPOSITION THAT GUARANTEES CALIFORNIANS CLEAN ELECTRICITY FOR DECADES TO COME.

Three powerful utilities (Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison, and San Diego Gas & Electric) are funding the campaign against Proposition 7.

Did you notice that nowhere in their argument against Proposition 7 did they say how they would help reduce global warming? Or create the 370,000 jobs?

Instead, they make inaccurate charges to scare small renewable companies and consumers. The independent Legislative Analyst's report doesn't back their false claims.

JUDGE FOR YOURSELF:

  • Why are both state political parties opposing Proposition 7? Could it be that the utility companies gave $1.5 million to the state Democratic Party and $1.1 million to the state Republican Party in the last four years? And more is coming!
  • Why are some renewable energy providers opposing Proposition 7? Could it be that under Proposition 7 they'll be required to pay their workers the prevailing wage?
  • Why do hand-picked environmental organizations oppose Proposition 7? Could it be they sit on many of the same boards and committees as the utilities do?

California is the 16th largest global warming polluter.

We need to change how we make electricity.

California can help solve the moral challenge of our time: global warming and climate change.

We can do it with the renewable energy resources and technology we have now. That's the choice.

Vote YES on Proposition 7. http://www.Yeson7.net

DELORES HUERTA, Co-Founder
United Farmworkers Union

CONGRESSMAN PAUL "PETE" McCLOSKEY JR. (Ret.)

JIM GONZALEZ, Chair
Californians for Solar and Clean Energy

Full Text of Proposition 7
This initiative measure is submitted to the people of California in accordance with the provisions of Section 8 of Article II of the California Constitution.

This initiative measure amends sections of the Public Utilities Code and amends and adds sections to the Public Resources Code; therefore, existing provisions proposed to be deleted are printed in strikeout type and new provisions proposed to be added are printed in italic type to indicate that they are new.

Text of Proposed Law


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