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Vote NO on Prop 23AB
32, the Global Warming Act of 2006, has sparked the green economy in
California, fostering innovation, bringing venture capital to our
communities, and weaning us from dependence upon rapidly diminishing
resources. Prop 23,
which would suspend this landmark legislation, will foul our air,
compromise our health and stifle our economy. SLO Green Build and the
US Green Building Council Central Coast Chapter urge you to vote No on Prop 23.
Passed by the California State Legislature and signed by Arnold
Schwarzenegger, AB 32 requires reductions in green house gas emissions.
This act has generated significant growth in the green economy,
including renewable energy, green building, energy-efficient products,
and improvements to transit systems and land use planning. With AB 32
as the foundation, California now claims more than 60% of the clean
energy venture capital in North America, at last count over $9 billion
and growing. According to a recent Los Angeles Times article, almost $4
billion has flowed into California in just the second quarter of this
year – a 55% gain from the previous year. Venture capital funds are
liquid, going to work immediately to create jobs, unlike funds from our
usual bank and loan system.
In contrast, most coal, gas and oil production takes place out of
state. Fossil fuel energy purveyors are unlikely to generate new jobs
or be growth engines in California. In fact, more than 98% of the
funding for Prop 23 has
come from three Texas based oil companies. Those companies know that AB
32 has been effective in changing how Californians do business, and for
their own bottom line, the Texas oil firms want to make sure we don’t
lose our dependence on fossil fuels.
Prop 23 supporters
have crafted their language to have you believe that the proposition
would merely “suspend” California state environmental implementation
until the economy improves. The trigger, however, is that unemployment
would need to dip below 5.5 % for four consecutive quarters. The reality
is that unemployment in California is currently over 12% and has
reached the 5.5 % for four quarters target only three times in the last
40 years. The effect will be to stifle California’s emerging green
industry, limiting potential competition.
Unemployment is too high, and people are rightfully concerned about
their future. The economic upheaval we are experiencing is causing real
pain for working families. However, our current problems are not
linked to clean energy legislation. This national disaster started with
massive corporate failures, moved to Wall Street and left Main Street
with the burden of a broken economy.
The green economy, in contrast, creates jobs and rewards innovation that keeps our air clean and our ecosystems healthy. Prop 23 would suspend specific regulatory measures already underway to implement AB 32:
· Halt the state’s planned cap‐and‐trade program that fosters green technology
· Suspend California’s low‐carbon fuel standard that reduces foreign fuel dependence
· Jeopardize the executive order requiring the state’s utilities to
provide 33 percent of their generated electricity from renewable sources
by 2020
· Suspend AB 32’s early implementation measures, such as efforts
to improve vehicle efficiency, expand landfill methane capture, and
limit industrial greenhouse gas emissions others emissions, among
others.
California is positioned to be the national leader in the development of
new environmental technology, emerging green jobs and the resulting
green economy. Allowing out-of-state fossil fuels producers to dictate
the future of California legislation reduces choice, is bad for our
health, and keeps us dependent on companies that do not support growth
in our State’s economy. VOTE NO ON PROP 23.
--
Lana Adams, Administrator
SLO Green Build
PO Box 12043
SLO, CA 93406
805 286 0072
admin@slogreenbuild.org | | |
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