Earth Equity News

Too Close to Call for L.A.'s Solar Measure B. By Jonathan Lloyd, MSNBC, March 5, 2009. "Despite early claims of victory for solar-energy Measure B by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, campaign leaders and Department of Water and Power officials, the measure was being narrowly defeated early Wednesday, but thousands of still-uncounted ballots mean it could be days or weeks until its fate is decided. Measure B, which would allow the Department of Water and Power to install enough solar panels on the rooftops of city buildings to generate 400 megawatts of power by 2014, is part of the city's plan to meet 10 percent of the city's needs with solar energy by 2020. It is one-third of the city's Solar LA plan, but the only component to appear on the ballot. As election results began trickling in Tuesday night, the measure appeared to be heading for victory, but late returns reversed the measure's fortunes. With 100 percent of precincts reporting early Wednesday morning, the measure was failing by 1,322 votes."