For those who may not know, you can literally throw a baseball from Vote Solar HQ and hit AT&T Park where the Giants take on the Rangers. And let us tell you, World Series fever has hit the neighborhood – big time.

While the teams match up in Game 1 today, California’s clean energy economy will face its own show down from Texas oil in next week’s election. Funded in part by out of state oil biggies, Props 23 & 26 would put California’s landmark climate change law & the green jobs it supports at risk. It’s like the World Series of California’s clean future. So we teamed up with local business & a rockstar crew of fellow non-profits to remind those hoards of baseball fans to vote NO on dirty energy. » Read the rest of this entry «

Amid the flurry of local and state ballot initiatives Californians will be voting on next month, we’re here to highlight TWO that have tremendous implications for our clean energy future:

Prop 23: Puts Climate Change Action & Renewable Progress on Hold: VOTE NO
Funded by out-of-state oil companies, Proposition 23 would suspend California’s landmark greenhouse gas law – AB 32. As if that’s not bad enough, Prop 23 isn’t just about cap-and-trade. A number of California’s clean energy policies, including our 33% renewable energy requirement and low carbon fuel standard, are wrapped into the state regulator’s AB 32 authority. If Prop 23 passes, that whole suite of clean economy policies are at risk too. » Read the rest of this entry «

This just in: Polluting Texas oil men don’t like California’s greenhouse gas law.

You heard it here first folks. Ok, maybe you’ve already heard it in the pre-election hubbub. And either way, it’s certainly no surprise. But here’s the skinny, just in case: The out-of-state oil biggies Valero and Tesoro have poured $4.5 million into funding Proposition 23, a ballot initiative that would repeal AB 32, California’s precedent-setting bipartisan law to reduce carbon emissions and build a cleaner economy. Those same oil companies have been some of the state’s most egregious air polluters according to a report from the Ella Baker Center and CEJA. Tesoro and Valero’s refinery operations near LA and San Francisco annually produce hundreds of thousands of pounds of toxic chemicals, including ammonia, sulfuric acid, lead compounds, asbestos, and vanadium. Their toxic practices have repeatedly violated California law in the past couple years alone.

So what are they up to? Specifically, the language of Proposition 23 puts AB 32 on hold until California’s unemployment rate dips to 5.5% or below for four consecutive quarters. To put that in context, our unemployment rate has only met that condition THREE times in the PAST THREE DECADES. Meanwhile, green job growth has been one of the sole areas of optimism as statewide unemployment hovers north of twelve percent. Make no mistake, Prop 23 would effectively nullify AB 32 and its economic and environmental benefits.

That doesn’t just hurt Californians. AB 32 has served as a rare model of real-world carbon legislation for other policymakers including our own federal government. Its demise would have national and international implications in the fight against climate change.

When it comes time to vote in November, a resounding “no” on Prop 23 will tell those big polluters to get their money-grubbing hands off California environmental policy.

There is no shortage of ways to learn more and get involved in the meantime. A couple suggestions: the Clean Economy Network is hosting a webinar on the subject - register here to join. And our friends at the Union of Concerned Scientists are urging folks to raise awareness by partying against the prop.

It’s going to be a tough battle. But as recent events in Congress have shown, we need states to take the lead on the job of transitioning to a clean energy economy needs – or it just might not get done at all.