Red, Blue, And Green States

Do you live in a red state or blue state? In less than three weeks, Californians and Missourians will vote on how to make their states greener.Both states are carrying hotly contested ballot initiatives on energy and global warming. Colorado, Oregon, and Idaho, too, had ballot initiatives, but those measures didn't make it to the state ballots.

One of California's two energy-related initiatives, Proposition 7, has been exceptionally contentious. Proposition 7 would require California utilities to procure half of their power from renewable resources by 2025. As of 2006, Californians generated 12% of their energy from renewable sources.

Proposition 7 will also require California utilities to increase their purchase of electricity generated from renewable resources by 2% annually to meet Renewable Portfolio Standard goal of 40% in 2025. Current law, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, requires an RPS of 20% by 2010.

Mary Nichols, chair of the California Air Resources Board, the agency responsible for the implementation of AB32, today is scheduled to give a keynote address on climate change policy, hosted at Advanced Micro Devices in Sunnyvale.

Proposition 7 has attracted widespread opposition from both political parties, as well as from independent groups, such as the influential Union of Concerned Scientists, which states: "Proposition 7 will set back our efforts to transition to a clean energy future. Based on UCS's extensive experience on the design and implementation of renewable electricity standards across the country, we are convinced that the serious flaws of Proposition 7 will prevent California from achieving our state's clean energy goals. UCS strongly supports effective policies to increase renewable energy in California, but we oppose Proposition 7 because it fails to deliver on its promises."

Proposition 7 is also opposed by the California Manufacturers and Technology Association.

Meanwhile, in Missouri, voters will show whether they support Proposition C, also known as the Clean Energy Initiative. Proposition C creates a renewable electricity standard in the state that would require utility companies to gradually increase their usage of renewable energy annually until 15% of the energy used in the state is renewable.