The latest chapter on good jobs vs out-of-state oil companies in California is due to play out on November 2, with voters being asked to vote on Proposition 23.  The intent of the proposition is to kill our climate responsibility law, AB 32.  This is a big deal—total campaign spending on this proposition alone could top $150M. 

The stakes are high.  AB32 was a piece of bi-partisan landmark legislation that helped launch California’s clean tech industry.  Cleantech is creating more jobs in California right now than any other sector—10x more. To gut this science-based approach to climate change before the movement spreads to DC, oil refiners Valero and Tesoro are spending an estimated $120M on this proposition to kill  suspend this legislation  [“AB32 Would Be Suspended, Likely for Many Years”].   They propose to gut it by suspending AB32 until unemployment remains below 5.5% for four consecutive quarters—something that doesn’t happen very often:Why?  AB32 introduces a cap and trade program, among other tools, to motivate large emitters to reduce their greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions.  Valero and Tesoro are presently mandated to report on emissions from, and clean up, their refineries in LA and near SF [their Benicia refinery is the 8th largest emitter of GHGs in California] at their cost.

AB 32 was designed to align our state’s economy with a healthier and more innovative future less dependent on foreign oil.  [click here to see China’s progress on same].  Since AB 32 was passed, 60% of all venture capital in the USA has been invested into California cleantech companies.  Record amounts of private equity have poured into California, startup companies financed, and jobs created by the thousands.  Northern California is emerging as the center of the US cleantech industry, largely as a result of AB32.

President Obama and Congress have failed to pass a USA clean energy bill.  California’s clean energy future is underway, launching a clean-tech industry with AB32’s science-based approach to the climate, incentivized by a landmark climate law, and fueled by strategic investors such as Sharp, MEMC and First Solar.

The Texas-based players behind Prop 23 intend to stop this California job-creating revolution—before it gets to Washington DC.  These high stakes have caused George Schultz, former secretary of state during the Reagan administration, to take a leading role in the campaign against Prop 23.

Creating jobs is not easy—but good jobs are what California, and the USA, need right now.  It takes capital, technology, incentives, and committed customers.

“One of the biggest challenges for government is convincing investors that incentives will remain in place long enough for them to earn a profit, and suspending existing regulations won't help with that.” 

And by voting NO on Proposition 23, California voters will send a message that good jobs, energy independence, and a clean energy future, matter.  This is too important to leave to the politicians in Congress.  Leadership starts at home.

Vote NO on 23 on 2NOV.