Setbacks for Saboteurs: Defections, Low Public Support Challenge Oil Companies’ Attempts to Derail Clean Energy and Climate

March 13, 2010 in Climate, Legislation | Tags: , , , , , , | by tinaandolina | Leave a comment

Efforts to attack AB 32, California’s landmark clean energy and global warming law, continued to hit boulder-sized bumps in the road this week.

After news circulated that two Texas-based oil companies had stepped forward to fund signature gathering for a ballot measure to suspend the law, one of the initial proponents noisily left the campaign. Ted Costa, chief executive of People’s Advocate explained to the Los Angeles Times that his departure was the result of “big money interests” (that) “have come in and shut out the people.” He savaged Goddard & Claussen, the PR firm hired to promote the measure, calling them “a bunch of greedy consultants feeding off the trough” with “a Watergate mentality.”

While this vicious infighting may help destabilize the anti-AB 32 campaign, new data indicate a much larger challenge: the voting public doesn’t want what they’re selling. Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates released a poll this week showing that voters oppose the ballot measure by a wide margin and that opposition grows as voters hear messages from supporters and opponents. After hearing the official title and summary for the measure as prepared by the Attorney General, including a fiscal impact summary, voters oppose the measure by a 46% to 37% margin. Hearing information from both sides of the campaign, opposition increased to 55% with twice as many indicating they would definitely vote “no” than those who would definitely vote “yes.” Knowing that oil companies would likely be funding the measure strongly motivated voters’ opposition. These results are highly consistent with those of a wide variety of public and private surveys that have shown broad support for California’s clean energy and global warming laws.

These positive developments should give us hope, but they can’t make us complacent. It’s time to turn up the pressure on the two out-of-state oil companies that are trying to buy their way onto the ballot and escape accountability for their pollution. Visit http://www.NoOnValero.com to get involved.

Wheels Falling Off: Oversight Hearing on 2009 Water Package

March 13, 2010 in Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , | by tinaandolina | Leave a comment

At a joint oversight hearing in the Capitol on Tuesday, the non-partisan Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) revealed some troubling news about the status of last year’s water policy package and accompanying $11 billion bond.

Although the complex package called for an array of new activities, funding hasn’t yet materialized, and some sources in the Governor’s Administration are now suggesting that the bond should be used to cover these costs. As the LAO’s Catherine Freeman noted, “The bond was not designed to be a financing mechanism for the whole package.” (Even if it were, the bond is so unpopular with voters that no one should be relying on it for anything.)

In addition, while legislators last year had approved the formation of a Delta Stewardship Council to chart the course for the future management of California water, the seven member body has not yet been selected. However, LAO staff revealed that the Governor’s administration has authorized the hiring of 27 current CALFED staff to assist the council – giving the strong impression that the council will be locked into the old CALFED paradigm. Both Republicans and Democrats acknowledge that CALFED was a failed government process. And while there are mixed feelings about this new bureaucratic initiative, everyone agreed it was at least supposed to offer a fresh start.

With the level of scrutiny displayed on Tuesday, we can expect more legislative oversight hearings on the Delta Stewardship Council and other elements of the water package later this year.

Oil Companies Fund Stealth Attack on Clean Energy and Climate Law; Public Interest Advocates Push Back

March 8, 2010 in Climate, Legislation | Tags: , , , , | by tinaandolina | Leave a comment

Last Wednesday, the New York Times reported that two Texas-based refinery giants have stepped forward to fund signature gathering for a ballot initiative to suspend AB 32, California’s landmark clean energy and global warming law.

Valero Energy Corp. and Tesoro Corp. have pledged as much as $2 million for the effort. Despite the state’s rigorous campaign disclosure laws, none of the funds have been publicly reported. However, the oil companies acknowledged that they have secured PR firm Goddard Claussen, notorious for their “Harry and Louise” ads that attacked President Clinton’s health care reform initiative in the early 1990s.

Even with a slick advertising campaign, Valero and Tesoro are going to have a hard time avoiding the spotlight. This morning a coalition of environmental and clean energy advocates protested outside a Sacramento Valero gas station to highlight the company’s attempt to buy their way out of the state’s new law. More efforts are planned for Valero retail outlets throughout northern California.

While it’s not surprising that these two companies would try to duck out of requirements to reduce the amount that they pollute – their four refineries in California are responsible for 16.7% of all reported greenhouse gas emissions in the state – it’s shocking to see how much damage their efforts would cause. By derailing AB 32, their initiative would kill hundreds of thousands of jobs in our rapidly-growing clean energy and green tech sector, chill billions of dollars of investments in clean technology companies, and prevent millions of Californians from breathing cleaner air.

It’s up to us to stop these out-of-state polluters from damaging California’s future. To get involved, visit http://www.NoOnValero.com.

Corporate Ag Giant Goes Rogue: Westlands Water District Quits Association of California Water Agencies

March 8, 2010 in Water | Tags: , , , | by David Maurier | 1 comment

Last week, Westlands Water District terminated its membership in the state’s largest coalition of public water purveyors, the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA), further isolating itself from mainstream negotiations over water rights in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

Westlands, the largest federal water customer in California, officially described the split as a financial decision, saying the District needs to focus its resources on lawsuits against wildlife protections in the Delta, and can no longer afford the $19,000 annual membership fee. However, in a February 3rd letter to ACWA’s leadership, Westlands President Jean P. Sagouspe made it clear that ACWA’s politics are the problem, complaining that ACWA’s policies no longer represent Westlands or further its interests.

As the statewide association of water agencies that manage water supplies for tens of millions of Californians, ACWA has chosen to engage cooperatively in negotiations over water rights in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, recognizing that unilateral action is counterproductive to creating ecologically and economically sustainable solutions for California’s water needs.

In contrast, Westlands Water District has shown disregard for important scientific information about the Delta ecosystems and impatience with public negotiations, striking deals with powerful politicians behind closed doors and aggressively pursuing a litigious rather than collaborative approach. While such tactics are hard to legitimize within a large association of water agencies, they may be easier to pursue solo. If successful, they could prove disastrous for California’s economy and environment.

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