Just ask Sperling. He expected his green energy proposal to be attacked by the big utilities. What he hadn't anticipated, according to a spokesman, was that some of the country's big environmental groups would pile on.
The activist groups say that flaws in the way the measure was written would actually stall the development of solar, wind and other renewable energy in California, a charge Sperling denies.
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Sunday, November 02, 2008 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 1 inches; 55 words Type of Material: Correction
Ballot measures: An article in Section A on Saturday about billionaires sponsoring state propositions on the Tuesday ballot was accompanied by one wrong photograph. The man identified in the caption as Henry T. Nicholas III, who is backing Propositions 6 and 9, was actually Henry Samueli. Nicholas is pictured here. The Times regrets the error.
"It is extremely disappointing to see traditional environmental organizations lining up with the dirty power lobby," said Steve Hopcraft, a spokesman for the Yes on Proposition 7 campaign.
Environmentalists from the big-money crowd have seen their plans go awry before.
The campaign for Bing's 2006 proposition had lots of cash and coveted endorsements from A-list celebrities and big environmental groups.
But the opposition persuaded voters that the tax would not have been be paid exclusively from oil company profits -- as proponents insisted -- but would instead have led to a surge in prices at the pump.
Stern said it is often the case that voters just aren't as enamored of some ideas as the well-meaning wealthy.
"We are seeing fewer and fewer of these kinds of initiatives adopted," Stern said. "Voters are cynical."
--
evan.halper@latimes.com
--
(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)
Billionaire-backed measures
Four billionaires paid to put five measures on Tuesday's ballot:
PROPOSITION 5: DRUG OFFENSES
Reduce penalties and expand treatment
George Soros' donations:
$1.4 million
Total donations in support:
$6.6 million
PROPOSITION 6: CRIME
Increase drug-, gang- and firearms-related penalties
Henry T. Nicholas III's donations
$1 million
Total donations in support
$1.7 million
PROPOSITION 7: ENERGY
Require utilities to increase renewable energy
Peter Sperling's donations
$9 million
Total donations in support
$9.2 million
PROPOSITION 9: VICTIMS' RIGHTS
Increase victims' input in the justice process
Henry T. Nicholas III's donations
$4.8 million
Total donations in support
$4.9 million
PROPOSITION 10: ALTERNATIVE FUELS
Borrow $5 billion to promote cleaner fuels
T. Boone Pickens' donations*
$15.2 million
Total donations in support
$17.5 million
*Donations by the Clean Energy Fuels Corp., which Pickens founded
Source: California secretary of state's office
