No on Prop 7 - Will this will disrupt renewable power?
I'm leading with a negative slant against this proposition because as I understand it this prop is a scam. Written to appear freindly toward renewables, but placed on the ballot by an Arizona Billionaire with no expertise in renewables and power issues. Here's a link to a less biased wiki page describing the prop.
http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/California_Proposition_7_(2008)
I'd like to read accurate feed back about this proposition. Here's more on my take...
The small business and electrical contractors that I know that I know do not like this propostion. Because of it's poor wording, this bill will force small wind an solar companies and electrical contractors that need to work, out of the market. A "competition elimination" provision excludes power from renewable plants smaller than 30 megawatts from counting toward the new requirements. Today, nearly 60% of contracts under California's renewable requirements are with these small providers. These smaller companies, electrical contractors in your town are creating jobs, and generating energy. If prop 7 passes this will slow down, further hurting the construction industry in this state.
The formal group opposing Prop. 7 is called Californians Against Another Costly Energy Scheme. The coalition includes the California Democratic Party, the California Republican Party, the California Labor Federation, the California Taxpayers' Association, the League of California Cities and the California Solar Energy Industries Association. A separate and independent coalition of environmental organizations has been formed, including the California League of Conservation Voters, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Union of Concerned Scientists, the Environmental Defense Fund, and the Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies. Ads by opponent groups, and other outreach, have been funded entirely by utilities, to date.
See also: List of Proposition 7 opponents.
Arguments made against Prop. 7
Arguments that have been made against Proposition 7 include:
It could "slam the brakes on renewable energy development in the state."[7]
The measure is "poorly written and so complicated that it could hurt the cause of renewable energy in the state."[8]
Ralph Cavanagh of the Natural Resources Defense Council told the Los Angeles Times that the "initiative was put together by people who didn't know what they were doing." As a result, he says, it "opens the way for many unintended consequences".[8]
V. John White, Director, Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies told the Los Angeles Times that “the initiative locks all the dysfunctional complexity into place and would require a two-thirds vote of the Legislature to change it."[8]
"It freezes up transmission, because it's not clear who has the authority to site what,” said Jan Smutny-Jones, Executive Director, Independent Energy Producers Association in Greenwire. “It would automatically lead us to litigation."[9]
Donors who oppose Prop. 7
http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/California_Proposition_7_(2008)
I'd like to read accurate feed back about this proposition. Here's more on my take...
The small business and electrical contractors that I know that I know do not like this propostion. Because of it's poor wording, this bill will force small wind an solar companies and electrical contractors that need to work, out of the market. A "competition elimination" provision excludes power from renewable plants smaller than 30 megawatts from counting toward the new requirements. Today, nearly 60% of contracts under California's renewable requirements are with these small providers. These smaller companies, electrical contractors in your town are creating jobs, and generating energy. If prop 7 passes this will slow down, further hurting the construction industry in this state.
The formal group opposing Prop. 7 is called Californians Against Another Costly Energy Scheme. The coalition includes the California Democratic Party, the California Republican Party, the California Labor Federation, the California Taxpayers' Association, the League of California Cities and the California Solar Energy Industries Association. A separate and independent coalition of environmental organizations has been formed, including the California League of Conservation Voters, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Union of Concerned Scientists, the Environmental Defense Fund, and the Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies. Ads by opponent groups, and other outreach, have been funded entirely by utilities, to date.
See also: List of Proposition 7 opponents.
Arguments made against Prop. 7
Arguments that have been made against Proposition 7 include:
It could "slam the brakes on renewable energy development in the state."[7]
The measure is "poorly written and so complicated that it could hurt the cause of renewable energy in the state."[8]
Ralph Cavanagh of the Natural Resources Defense Council told the Los Angeles Times that the "initiative was put together by people who didn't know what they were doing." As a result, he says, it "opens the way for many unintended consequences".[8]
V. John White, Director, Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies told the Los Angeles Times that “the initiative locks all the dysfunctional complexity into place and would require a two-thirds vote of the Legislature to change it."[8]
"It freezes up transmission, because it's not clear who has the authority to site what,” said Jan Smutny-Jones, Executive Director, Independent Energy Producers Association in Greenwire. “It would automatically lead us to litigation."[9]
Donors who oppose Prop. 7
Tags: 7, california, contractor, electric, prop, solar, wind
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Tim Snodgrass on -
I'm very glad you brought this issue up John. I think it's a very important one to those of us in California.
On the surface, it seems like a great deal. Half of California's energy needs from renewable energy by 2025. In today's day and age who opposes that goal?
Like you have pointed out however, something smells very fishy about it. It is becoming very difficult to know what we are really voting for because of the tricky double talk with which these propositions are written. Pending further information, my current feeling is that No is the way to go on 7 for the following reasons:
1. "We the people" will make this happen. California is clearly deeply committed to alternative energy, has it should be. I see a lot of talk in the proposition about penalties that could discourage small inovative alternative energy producers, but nothing about incentives. So what do we really gain from it? and what do we potentialy loose from hidden traps in the legislation? I think the potential risk far outweighs the potential benefit.
2. Stating the obvious, is the favored tactic for deceptive propositions.
3. I know how committed the Environmental Defense Fund is to alternative energy, so it raises some serious questions for me when they oppose it.
I don't claim to be an expert on this proposition, and I welcome further information, but that is my take on it from the information I do have.
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