California Voters Uphold Climate Law, Defeat Prop 23


Looks like Proposition 23, the attempt to torpedo California’s landmark AB32 climate bill, is going down by a very large margin. According to the most recent tally, 61 percent of state voters said “No” to the initiative.

Enviros cheered the defeat of Prop 23, which would have rolled back the 2006 law that required the state to cut emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. Implementation of that law is set to begin next year. “Tonight California voters delivered a decisive win for the clean energy economy,” said Steven Maviglio, spokesman for the “No on Prop 23″ campaign. ” In the midst of a major economic downturn, and with a barrage of fear mongering and scare tactics, voters still chose clean energy over dirty energy.”

The debate about the law—which had bipartisan support, including the backing of Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger—prompted quite a bit of spending from both sides. Oil companies, many of them from out of state, spent almost $10 million on the campaign to defeat AB32. The “No” campaign, with major backing from the clean-tech community, venture capitalists, and environmental groups, raised $29.8 million.

Notably, Prop 23 represents the first time that American voters have been asked to weigh in directly on such a comprehensive climate and energy plan. It is also seen as a way, by example or by the dint of California’s economic clout, for progress to be made on climate policy even in the absense of federal leadership.

More Mother Jones reporting on Climate Desk

WE'LL BE BLUNT:

We need to start raising significantly more in donations from our online community of readers, especially from those who read Mother Jones regularly but have never decided to pitch in because you figured others always will. We also need long-time and new donors, everyone, to keep showing up for us.

In "It's Not a Crisis. This Is the New Normal," we explain, as matter-of-factly as we can, what exactly our finances look like, how brutal it is to sustain quality journalism right now, what makes Mother Jones different than most of the news out there, and why support from readers is the only thing that keeps us going. Despite the challenges, we're optimistic we can increase the share of online readers who decide to donate—starting with hitting an ambitious $300,000 goal in just three weeks to make sure we can finish our fiscal year break-even in the coming months.

Please learn more about how Mother Jones works and our 47-year history of doing nonprofit journalism that you don't find elsewhere—and help us do it with a donation if you can. We've already cut expenses and hitting our online goal is critical right now.

payment methods

WE'LL BE BLUNT

We need to start raising significantly more in donations from our online community of readers, especially from those who read Mother Jones regularly but have never decided to pitch in because you figured others always will. We also need long-time and new donors, everyone, to keep showing up for us.

In "It's Not a Crisis. This Is the New Normal," we explain, as matter-of-factly as we can, what exactly our finances look like, how brutal it is to sustain quality journalism right now, what makes Mother Jones different than most of the news out there, and why support from readers is the only thing that keeps us going. Despite the challenges, we're optimistic we can increase the share of online readers who decide to donate—starting with hitting an ambitious $300,000 goal in just three weeks to make sure we can finish our fiscal year break-even in the coming months.

Please learn more about how Mother Jones works and our 47-year history of doing nonprofit journalism that you don't find elsewhere—and help us do it with a donation if you can. We've already cut expenses and hitting our online goal is critical right now.

payment methods

We Recommend

Latest

Sign up for our free newsletter

Subscribe to the Mother Jones Daily to have our top stories delivered directly to your inbox.

Get our award-winning magazine

Save big on a full year of investigations, ideas, and insights.

Subscribe

Support our journalism

Help Mother Jones' reporters dig deep with a tax-deductible donation.

Donate