Is Big Oil Going After California’s Climate Legislation?

Jul 19, 2010 Environmental News

Quick answer, yes, Big Oil is targeting California’s climate legislation. Proposition 23 would cause California to only enforce it’s Global Warming Solutions Act when unemployment is under 5.5% for four consecutive quarters.

That doesn’t sound that bad until you understand that unemployment has only been that low three times since 1970.

Worse, as the article at Grist points out,  the clean energy law has created more jobs than it has damaged. Claiming that green energy solutions damage job creation is a common tactic used to make people think that it’s not something we can afford to do right now.

Funny, I always thought that new technology meant opportunity. Opportunity for individuals to get jobs and for new businesses to grow. Jobs are being created as new technologies become available and improve.

Of course, this isn’t about other businesses. This is about the oil companies protecting their profits. What happens to the rest of us doesn’t matter.

This is where it becomes important to pay attention to who is sponsoring a proposition, or any commercials supporting it. You can learn a lot here in California about what to vote for just by who’s trying to pass or defeat a proposition.

Keep an eye on this one. I expect some really nasty advertising to come around trying to pass Prop 23 in the coming months. I hope my fellow Californians don’t fall for it.

Related posts:

1. Moving is Such a Big Decision
2. My Big Green Goal for 2009 – Greening Baby
3. Pope Talks Climate Again
4. Use the Gulf Oil Spill as a Reminder to Live an Eco Friendly Lifestyle
5. October 24, 2009 – Can You Join the International Day of Climate Action?

Tags: big oil, california, climate legislation, job creation, proposition 23