NO on 7: Don't Set Energy Policy by Initiative

Could we please stop trying to legislate complex policy with a poorly-crafted ballot initiative?

Prop 7 has a noble goal, getting California to have more renewable energy. But it completely fails on execution.

A little background: Before I got into the transportation world, I spent six years working and studying energy efficiency and renewables. At UC Berkeley's Energy & Resources Group (ERG), I knew lots of people deeply involved in debates on California energy policy. They often disagreed. But all the ERGies I know, and all the groups who advocate for good energy policy, say Prop 7 is terribly written and would make matters worse, not better.

Prop 7 will:

• force small renewable energy companies out of the market;
• allow power providers to always charge a 10% premium above the market price, stifling competition; and
• fundamentally mess up the emerging market for renewable energy.
  

Check out the list of opponents to Prop 10: every major statewide environmental group, consumer advocates, renewable energy producers, taxpayer groups, League of Women Voters, more chambers of commerce than I can count.

Vote NO on 7: don't set energy policy by initiative.