Victory: November's Dirty Energy Proposition fails

Write a letter to the editor celebrating California's clean energy victory

No on Prop 23

Californians are fortunate to live in a state with environmental and public health protections that help ensure a high quality of life. One such law is California’s Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32), which was attacked in the November 2010 election by polluting industries and their elected allies. They want us to keep burning fossil fuels rather than transition to a more sustainable, clean energy economy.

Texas-based refinery giants Valero and Tesoro wanted to gut AB 32 and roll back the requirements to reduce the amount that they pollute -- because the two companies operate four California refineries that, combined, emit 16.7% of all of the global warming emissions in the state. They and other out-of-state polluters spent millions to put Proposition 23 onto our November ballot to suspend AB 32. Californians saw through their scheme and overwhelmingly defeated Prop 23 by a huge margin.

This is great news, because our current economic challenges make it more important than ever to stand up for environmental protections. Research shows that being “green” (ecological) helps save and bring in the “green” (money). A recent UC study reported that California’s successful efforts to become cleaner and more efficient have saved us money and grown the economy, resulting in the creation of 1.5 million jobs with a total payroll of over $45 billion. AB 32 will encourage even more investment in energy-related research, innovation and development in our state.

Take action today: reinforce this important victory.

  • Please write a Letter to the Editor commending Californians for defeating Prop 23. (Use the form below; please keep your letter to about 250 words or less.)

Step 1 - Select a Recipient

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Step 2 - Write your message





Click on a point to add it to the letter.
  • In November, Texas oil companies tried and failed to block California's clean energy future. Valero, Tesoro, and other out-of-state polluters put Proposition 23 on the ballot to suspend California's Global Warming Solutions Act.

  • Passing Prop 23 would have been a disaster for California, delaying our transition to a more sustainable, clean energy economy and affecting the entire nation.

  • California voters knew who was behind Proposition 23 and didn't buy their line. Valero and Tesoro are two Texas-based oil companies that are among California's biggest polluters. They and other out-of-state polluters would like nothing better than for our state to reverse course and continue burning carbon-spewing fossil fuels indefinitely -- after all, it's profitable for them.

  • Green jobs are already growing 2.5 times as fast as traditional jobs; Prop 23 would have undermined that progress in sectors like transportation infrastructure, environmental engineering, manufacturing, information technology, and water purification and conservation.

  • Prop 23 showed that Big Oil is far out of California's mainstream. Nearly 600 organizations in California, including grassroots environmental groups, businesses, labor, and health organizations built an impressive coalition to defeat Prop 23. And it went down in flames by a margin of 39%-61%. (Polluters should think again before challenging the will of Californians.)

  • By taking action now to reduce climate change, we can minimize its effects, including rising temperatures and volatile weather patterns, that will otherwise result in astronomically rising costs for California businesses in critical sectors like tourism and agriculture.

  • Proponents of Prop 23 claimed that California's landmark clean energy law is a "job killer." However, a recent UC study reported that California's successful efforts to become cleaner and more efficient have saved us money and grown the economy, resulting in the creation of 1.5 million jobs with a total payroll of over $45 billion.

  • Californians said loud and clear that, yes, we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions while growing the economy. We have been doing both for the last 35 years.

  • In the face of an economy that is slow to recover, Californians showed their vision of the future is based on innovation and clean energy. Defeating Prop 23 was an important victory, not just for our state.