Prop 23 Is Defeated
The 2010 midterms were tough for Democrats and even tougher for environmentalists. The loss of the House and the near-loss of the Senate for Democrats mean that greens will be playing defense for at least the next two years. But there was a silver — or green — lining. In 2006 California passed a landmark climate change law that pledged the state to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. With the recession in full swing in the Golden State, business forces put a ballot initiative called Proposition 23 forward for the 2010 election. Prop 23 would have all but repealed the climate-change law, and set back California's burgeoning clean tech sector. But in California, the greens fought back — with green. Behind a multimillion dollar advertising campaign — funded by contributions from celebrities, environmental groups and clean tech backers — Prop 23 was resoundingly defeated, leaving California free to develop its carbon cap system.