California Rejects Clean Power Initiative

Would have been country's most aggressive clean power initiative

California voters have defeated Proposition 7, which would have been the country's most aggressive clean power initiative, the Associated Press reported.

Proposition 7 would have required the state's utilities to generate half their electricity from windmills, solar systems, geothermal reserves and other renewable sources by 2025.

With 19 percent of the vote counted Tuesday, nearly two-thirds of voters had rejected the measure.

The initiative sparked an odd coalition of critics, including top environmentalists and the state's investor utilities.

Critics charged the initiative would have driven up electricity rates, delayed the state's transition to clean power and put small renewable energy companies out of business.

 Supporters argued utilities had to be forced to boost their purchases of renewable energy.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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