El Paso voters spoke loud and clear, decisively rejecting Proposition K in a special election held in May. Proposition K aimed to introduce a comprehensive climate charter into the city’s charter, proposing various policies that supporters say would combat climate change. However, nearly 82% of the voters opposed the measure.
Proposition K faced strong opposition from several stakeholders. One major concern was the financial burden it would have placed on El Pasoans. By mandating the implementation of climate change policies and requiring citizens to bear the cost, it was perceived as an approach that put regulatory control over not just the environment but also other aspects of the city’s affairs.
The heart of the Charter lied in the Solar Power Generation Plan. The plan was meant to achieve ambitious renewable energy goals of 80 percent renewable energy by 2030 and 100 percent renewable energy by 2045. Such arbitrary targets were met with criticism, as it would have forced developers to incorporate solar power generation capacity in buildings which might not be feasible or economically viable.
The economic impact of Proposition K was also a significant concern. The El Paso Chamber of Commerce estimated that if implemented, the measure could have resulted in the loss of 130,000 jobs, $7.9 billion in earnings, and $28.2 billion in economic impact by 2030. The economy could have potentially shrunk by over 40 percent, with average households experiencing losses of $38,000 in the long run.
Furthermore, opponents pointed out that Proposition K went beyond addressing climate change concerns. The measure could have potentially compelled the privately-owned El Paso Electric to sell its assets to the city, thereby establishing a government-owned public utility.
“[T]he El Paso Chamber believes efforts to combat climate change are important and should be enacted so long as affordability and reliability are at the heart of those decisions. Prop K was neither of those things,” said El Paso Chamber of Commerce President Andrea Hutchins.
