CA Prop 23

You probably already know this, but the effort to kill CA's cap-and-trade law (AB 32) is funded almost exclusively by out-of-state oil interests.  The two biggest contributors to CA Prop 23 are Texas oil companies Tesoro and Valero.  The out-of-state forces are expected to raise $50M in their efforts to preserve business as usual.

What to expect:

• In this effort, Prop 23 backers will try to blame CA's economic troubles, including its unemployment rate, on liberals and radical environmentalists.  
• The backers of Prop 23 will neglect to mention the huge tax subsidies Big Oil and Big Coal already enjoy.  
• The backers of Prop 23 will neglect to mention the CA jobs that will evaporate if green energy startups are unable to compete with subsidized, established energy players.
• Prop 23 backers will try to establish a link in voters' minds between AB 32 and "out of touch politicians in Sacramento who want to raise your taxes."

In contrast, nearly all of the "No On Prop 23" funding is coming from CA "green-tech" businesses, venture capitalists, and environmental activists.

This is a battle between the old economy and the new economy.  Entrenched big (huge) business interests feel justifiably threatened at the possibility they could lose revenue if CA businesses become big players in the power biz. CA businesses at risk if Prop 23 passes include renewable energy startups, PV system installers, and R&D efforts.  And remember: oil dollars flow out of CA into TX and elsewhere.  In contrast, CA green tech companies bring money into the state, employ people in the state, pay taxes in the state.

If you'd like to read more, here's an article from Grist.  Disclaimer: Grist is a progressive on-line 'zine and this is reflected in its editorial positions.