Climate, Energy, and Environment on the Ballot

Ballot measures in Washington and California are especially important but others are worth noting.

Elections are primarily about electing candidates, but many states have adopted some form of popular democracy.  This year, the highest-profile state initiatives are about abortion. But there are also seven state initiatives relating to energy and environment. Of those, the two biggest are a $10 billion green bond proposal in California and a proposed rollback of Washington State’s new cap-and-trade program.  The outcomes of these and other initiatives will provide a barometer of public sentiment on environmental issues.

California. Prop 4 would authorize issuance of $10 billion in bonds, which would provide $3.8 billion for safe drinking water and groundwater, $1.5 billion for wildfire and forest programs, and $1.2 billion to combat sea level rise. Other projects include extreme heat mitigation, improved outdoor access, and investment in nature-based climate solutions. You can find more details in an earlier Legal Planet post by Sabrina Ashjian.

Louisiana. HB 300 would require that federal payments to the state from offshore wind leases go into the state’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Fund.

Minnesota. HF 1900 would continue the use of state lottery funds “for the public purpose of protection, conservation, preservation, and enhancement of the state’s air, water, land, fish, wildlife, and other natural resources.”  Since 1991, the lottery has produced about $21 million per year $700 million for these environmental measures.

Rhode Island.  Question 4 is a $53 million green bond measure to fund climate resilience measures, forest restoration, and other investments in green spaces and waterways.

South Dakota. SB 201 is an effort to overturn a state law regulating carbon dioxide pipelines. The legislation in question provided a surcharge of a dollar a foot on pipelines that would go for local property tax relief, set some requirements for pipelines, and preempts local ordinances on the subject.

Washington. Initiative 2066 is entitled, “Protect Energy Choice.”  The choice in question is to use natural gas rather than electrifying, and initiative aims to make it impossible for the state, local jurisdictions, or utilities themselves to limit access to natural gas.

Also in Washington, the title of Initiative 211 is “Prohibit Carbon Tax Credit Trading,” which pretty much says it all. The initiative is an effort to roll back the state’s pathbreaking 2021 law, which established a statewide cap-and-trade program.  Each side has spent in the neighborhood of $12 million in the battle over the initiative.

2024 election, 2024 elections, CCS, Climate Change, local government, natural gas, state elections, states