California Proposition 7

"The Solar and Clean Energy Act of 2008"

California Proposition 7, naming itself "The Solar and Clean Energy Act of 2008", is on the November 2008 ballot in California. The Proposition presents itself as plan to greatly increase the fraction of electricity generated from renewable sources in California, setting the target that, by 2025, 50 percent of the electricity purchased by the state's utilities ("retail sellers") will be from renewable sources.

The Proposition makes a complex set of changes to California laws to fast-track the siting of industrial-scale solar facilities and new power lines under the control of the California Public Utilities Commission and the California Energy Commission. Meanwhile, it apparently excludes from participation in the program renewable energy providers with capacities of less than 30 megawatts.

In-Depth Analysis

• Likely Effecs of California Proposition 7 -- position papers
  • California Prop 7: Taking the Green out of Renewable Energy
  • California Proposition 7: Redefining Renewable Energy to Concentrate Power
  • California Proposition 7 "The Solar and Clean Energy Act of 2008" -- NO
• Proposition 7 Language: How it changes California law
• Proposition 7 backers: Arizona billionare, Sacramento lobbyist take spotlight
• Proposition 7 opponents: "Big Solar" initiative called damaging to renewable energy development
• Who stands to benefit: California Proposition 7 as inviting monopoly

Resources

• Text of Proposition [Searchable text in HTML]
• Text of Proposition [Scans in PDF]
• California Proposition 7 (2008) [cached] Ballotpedia page
• Renewable Energy. Statute. [cached] Analysis by the Legislative Analyst's Office
• Renewable Energy. Statute. [cached] Summary by the Legislative Analyst's Office

Opinion and Analsys, Pro and Con

• Civic organizations: position papers
  • No on California's Proposition 7; Flawed Ballot Initiative Would Undermine Renewable Energy in California Union of Concerned Scientists
  • Proposition 7 Analysis CalSEIA.org
  • The Alliance for Responsible Energy Policy "supporting renewable energy that does not sacrifice our environment"
• Industry and professional associations: position papers
  • Prop. 7: A Bad Idea for Renewable Energy? GreenTechMedia.com
• Official campaigns: websites and analyses
  • False Claims vs. FACTS yeson7.net
  • General Facts: Prop. 7 Would Bring Higher Electric Bills and Disrupt Renewable Power Development [cached] NoProp7.com
  • NO on Proposition 7 [PDF] [cached] (earlier version of factsheet from NoProp7.com)
• Reports and editorials
  • 2 energy propositions flawed, critics say San Francisco Chronicle
  • Editorial: No is the green vote on Proposition 7 The Mercury News
  • The Solar and Clean Energy Act Engenders Much Debate RenewableEnergyWorld.com