Renewable Energy Accountability Project (REAP) Statement on Proposition 16: Vote NO on Prop. 16

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Renewable Energy Accountability Project

Apr 22, 2010, 10:00 ET

SACRAMENTO, Calif., April 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Pacific Gas and Electric Corporation (PG&E) is solely funding the Yes on Proposition 16 campaign with customer rates. If passed, PG&E, the state's largest for-profit electric utility, will be its major beneficiary. Campaigning as a wolf in sheep's clothing, PG&E is deceiving voters into granting PG&E a mega-electricity monopoly.

"Clearly, Proposition 16 is not about maintaining voters' or taxpayers' rights; rather it's about tightening a Big Utility's stranglehold over the entire state of California," said Jim Gonzalez, Chair of the Renewable Energy Accountability Project (REAP).

Prop. 16, if enacted, would effectively eliminate the public's right to choose small business, and public power providers, over PG&E's interests. Like Wall Street, PG&E has given large bonuses to its executives, even after the company went bankrupt and ratepayers bailed them out. Granting PG&E a for-profit monopoly on electricity is NOT in California's best interests.

"California has always been a leader in renewable energy, public power agencies, and small business innovation, but if Proposition 16 is passed, California's public options for energy independence would be set back and it would be nearly impossible for communities to continue to lead the way for affordable public power, and a strong green economy," Gonzalez concluded.

Visit REAP at: http://reapinfo.org

SOURCE Renewable Energy Accountability Project