HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESO 8650RESOLUTION NO 8650
RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF PROPOSITION 87
THE CLEAN ENERGY IN INITIATIVE
WHEREAS, passage of Proposition 87, the Clean Energy Initiative appearing on the
November 7, 2006 ballot, will reduce California's dependence on oil by making oil companies
pay their fair share in our state to stimulate research and development of renewable energy
resources, thus reducing the environmental, economic and national security problems that our oil
dependence creates; and
WHEREAS, oil companies pay billions in drilling fees in states including Alaska,
Louisiana and Texas, but pay almost nothing for extracting oil in California; and
WHEREAS, California's increasingly polluted air causes illnesses including asthma, lung
disease and cancer, which takes an incredible human and economic toll within our state; and
WHEREAS, an increasing amount of the oil we use comes from unstable regions of the
world, entangling our nation in global conflicts and resulting in the transfer of billions of dollars
out of our economy; and
WHEREAS, California's gasoline prices are the highest in the nation and are negatively
affecting the financial health of our families, businesses, school districts and government; and
WHEREAS, California consumers will pay little or no costs for the programs enacted by
Proposition 87; and
WHEREAS, Proposition 87 is a practical and achievable program that will reduce
California's oil consumption by providing consumers with rebates to buy cleaner, cheaper-
running vehicles and businesses with incentives to use renewable energies like wind, solar and
biofuels; giving specific preference to local governments and school districts to buy school
buses, emergency service vehicles, waste disposal trucks and mass transit fleet vehicles; and
funding university research.
WHEREAS, Proposition 87 will fund a $100 million statewide vocational training
program through California's community colleges to train new workers and retrain workers for
new jobs, and specifically provides grants for low-income students and fossil-fuel energy
workers who want to transition to clean alternative energy jobs; and
WHEREAS, Proposition 87 will invest $4 billion in developing a clean energy economy
in California, creating new industries, technologies, and tens of thousands of good paying jobs;
and
WHEREAS, Proposition 87's investment in California's economy will generate
additional revenues for state and local government budgets and additional funding for schools
through the Proposition 98 guarantee; and
WHEREAS, the programs created by Proposition 87 will be managed with transparency
and accountability according to existing state open meeting, competitive bidding and conflict of
interest rules as well as new, tougher rules enacted by Proposition 87; and
WHEREAS, the American Lung Association of California, the Coalition for Clean Air
and a broad and diverse coalition of local government, business, public health, environmental,
energy independence and senior organizations are supporting Proposition 87.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the City Council of the City of Palo Alto urges the
People of California to vote YES on the California Clean Energy Initiative.
INTRODUCED AND PASSED: September 25, 2006
AYES: CORDELL, DREKMEIER, KISHIMOTO, KLEIN, KLEINBERG, MORTON
NOES: BARTON, BEECHAM, MOSSAR
ABSENTIONS:
ABSENT:
APPROVED:
APP~~VED AS TO FORM: .~ k~
City Manager