American Optometric Association, 1104 West Ave, Austin, TX 78701, US

Consumers Union supports the development of cleaner, renewable forms of energy, such as wind, and geothermal, and better energy efficiency in our cars, appliances and buildings. These 'greener' choices offer the opportunity to stabilize consumer energy prices and decrease water and air pollution. Clean energy initiatives can also reduce America's dependence on foreign oil, and help build an innovative clean energy economy here at home. Four years ago California passed a blueprint to reach clean energy goals and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2020. This groundbreaking legislation (AB 32) was widely supported in the state, and is credited with sparking innovative energy technologies, creating new jobs, and making strides in reducing pollution. Today, California leads the U.S. in renewable energy capacity and clean energy technology, and has made efficiency a top priority to reduce energy demand, pollution and consumer energy bills. Prop 23 on the Nov. 2 California ballot would halt this progress by stopping implementation of the state's clean energy law. Consumers Union opposes Prop 23 because it would undermine not only California's progress in holding polluters accountable and developing new clean energy technologies, but other states and the rest of the nation as well.