Cities team up against Proposition 7

Agoura Hills has joined the League of California Cities and Southern California Edison in opposing Proposition 7, the reneweable energy act that will appear on the Nov. 4 ballot.

Rudy Gonzales, public affairs manager of SCE, told City Council members at a recent meeting that California already has one of the most aggressive renewable energy programs in the nation.

The proposition would require California's electric utilities to obtain at least 20 percent of their power from renewable sources, such as wind, solar and other alternatives by 2010. The quota would increase to 40 percent by 2020 and 50 percent by 2025.

"Small renewable providers could be hurt by this," Gonzales said. "While renewable energy is desirable, it's not always available."

He said if the proposition passes, the cost of noncompliance would be exorbitant and consumer bills would rise. And if it passes, the proposition "could slam the breaks on renewable energy in the state," he said.

But continued reliance on fossil fuels for electricity will cost Californians more in the long run, supporters of the measure say. They also say Prop. 7 would make California the world leader in clean power technology and help create more than 370,000 new jobs.

Prop. 7 protects consumers and favors clean energy over fossil fuels, says the group funding the measure, which is led by Arizona billionaire Peter Sperling.

A television advertisement in support of the proposition calls the reliance on coal-fired plants, "California's dirty little secret."

Opponents aren't deterred.

"I'm comfortable that Edison is doing everything that is reasonably possible in energy conservation," City Councilmember Dan Kuperberg said.

Councilmember Harry Schwarz called the measure an "idiosyncratic bill that has good intent until you take a good look (at the details.)" He said while Sperling's idea for more renewable energy is laudable, the method to achieve the goals isn't practical.

"The part that hit home to me the most was the lack of bipartisan support," Councilmember Bill Koehler said.

Opponents believe the current incentives to produce renewable energy are adequate and that the measure isn't needed.