CLCV has made two endorsements for the March 3, 2009 primary election in the city of Los Angeles, for the re-election of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Yes on Measure B, the solar initiative.

Re-elect Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa: CLCV backed the successful mayoral candidacy of Antonio Villaraigosa in 2005; his record since then has fully justified CLCV’s endorsement then and now for re-election. Mayor Villaraigosa has kept a sharp focus not just on improving the environment but using it as a vehicle for creating well-paying jobs and a sustainable economy in Los Angeles.

Under his leadership the Port of Los Angeles has begun a landmark effort to reduce pollution and global warming emissions while ending the exploitation of workers operating the surface transport component of that industry. The LA Department of Water and Power established an aggressive commitment to renewable energy and crafted the largest solar power proposal (400 megawatts) in its history (Measure B; see below). Over the last four years, CRA-LA (the Community Redevelopment Agency-Los Angeles) has pursued an aggressive program of mixed-use development that encourages transit-adjacent development and green industries while safeguarding low- and moderate-income housing.

These achievements have been made possible in part because Mayor Villaraigosa has appointed strong environmentalists to a number of key city departments and commissions. Further, the Mayor encouraged the formation of Green LA, an organization that brings local environmental, environmental justice, and labor groups together to shape LA’s future; since that time Mayor Villaraigosa has supported Green LA and consulted them closely.

Yes on Measure B: Measure B, the Solar Energy and Job Creation Program or simply “the solar initiative,” is a major step moving L.A. toward meeting its ambitious environmental goals by harnessing the city’s most abundant natural resource—the sun. The initiative calls for the installation of solar electrical generation facilities with a capacity of 400 megawatts within the City of Los Angeles in five years and has the potential to eliminate 400,000 tons of greenhouse gases. There are positive impacts for the solar industry as well. Because of the large scale of this project, manufacturing costs for solar power equipment is expected to drop dramatically.

In addition to the economic benefits to local residents are the clear environmental and health advantages of the program. Currently, the LADWP generates 75 percent of its electricity using polluting fossil fuels, with a significant amount generated by coal-fired power plants. Breathing air in polluted metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles can reduce life expectancy by 7 to 10 years and significantly increases the risk for cancer. We know that thousands of our most vulnerable residents die each year from air pollution, and the city consistently ranks at the top of the nation in health risks due to dirty air. Finally, according to a recent study by California State University, Fullerton, the cost of air pollution in the South Coast Air Basin is more than $1,250 per person per year ― which adds up to a $22 billion cost to the region’s economy.

When fully implemented, Measure B will prevent the generation of 400,000 tons of greenhouse gases into our air, fighting the worst air pollution in the nation, reducing our risk for lung cancer, asthma, and other pollution-related chronic diseases, and saving both money and lives.

Measure B would also create thousands of new, well-paying skilled jobs at the local level (estimates range from 6,000-8,000). The initiative includes provisions for job training targeted at underprivileged communities as well as incentives for local manufacturers. At a time when many are talking of green collar jobs and economic stimulus, Measure B may well serve as a model for sustainable development.

Of course, everyone is concerned about what this initiative would mean for our monthly electricity bills. In a detailed analysis recently completed by an independent consulting firm, the impact was calculated to be an increase of approximately one dollar per month for the average residential customer—just a few pennies each day. Measure B will actually save money in the long run, because over time solar power will be significantly cheaper than coal and gas. The sun’s energy is free, infinitely renewable and inflation-proof, and the cost of capturing solar power is on its way down, becoming more competitive with fossil fuels. And because the program is owned and operated by a public utility, ratepayers will not be charged a profit.

In order to ensure future generations do not have to depend on expensive, highly polluting energy sources, it’s time for Los Angeles to implement the nation’s most aggressive solar energy plan and become the nation’s leader in solar energy. Let’s make each of the 276 days of sunshine we enjoy every year count towards a cleaner, greener future for our city. We urge Angelenos to vote yes on Measure B, the economic and environmental stimulus package for Los Angeles.