California's Landmark Climate Legislation under Attack by Texas Oil Giants

By Jessica Allen and Desiree Hatton

When California passed AB 32 in 2006, environmentalists knew that the struggle against corporate interests would be lengthy and tough. Now, months before California's landmark climate legislation is set to go into effect, some of the biggest polluters in the country have set their sights upon squelching what has become a universal cry for clean emissions and energy efficiency.

On November 2 California voters will be faced with an unprecedented campaign on the part of corporate interests to influence environmental regulations. Two Texas oil giants, Valero and Tesoro, have funded a ballot initiative that would repeal AB 32. Proponents of Proposition 23 call it a mere "suspension" of our clean air and energy standards, claiming that they will be reinstated when California's unemployment reaches 5.5% for four consecutive quarters. Economists refer to this as a "Blue Moon" economic situation, one that has only occurred 3 times in the past 40 years. If oil companies manage to kill AB 32, they will be able pollute without accountability while driving out their top competitor, the budding clean energy and clean tech sector.

Prop 23 is deceptively being portrayed as a "job saver". In reality, it would decimate the only fiscal stability that California has. In an economy gone sour, green tech jobs have actually increased, growing at a rate 10 times that of traditional jobs. Half a million Californians are currently employed in some way by the green tech industry, a number that is expected to more than double by 2020. We receive more than 60% of all clean tech investments in the United States; five times that of our nearest competitor state. Since 2005, investors have poured more than $10 Billion into California's green economy, sprouting more than 12,000 new businesses. The Big Texas Oil Barons want to cut out their competition at the knees, maintain their monopoly, and debilitate the future of clean energy in California and beyond.

If passed, Prop 23 would lead to greatly increased public health risks. California already has some of the most polluted air in the country, with the toxic effects of emissions felt most strongly by children and the elderly. According to the American Lung Association, more than 90% of Californians live in counties with failing air quality. Valero and Tesoro both operate refineries in California that are among the top 10 polluters in our state. If they are allowed to overturn our emission control standards, our already dangerously tainted air will only get worse.

California has traditionally been a leader and innovator in clean technology and energy standards. Big oil companies know that if they can stop the clean energy movement in California, it will allow them to continue their monopoly indefinitely. If the Dirty Energy Proposition has its well-funded way, decades of hard work to protect the environment for future generations will have all been in vain.

To learn more, visit www.stopdirtyenergyprop.com.

Contact Butte County Vote No on Prop 23 at votedownprop23@gmail.com.

From the Spring 2010 issue of the Environmental News.