Prop 87

We rarely get involved in something that’s not exclusively solar related.

But an opportunity to make oil companies cough up $4 billion to cure our addiction to oil? That’s a gamechanger, so we are dusting off the Vote Solar Action Fund and getting involved.

THE ISSUE
Prop 87 is a California ballot initiative for a small tax on oil drilling in the state, with the proceeds used to reduce oil consumption. More details here, but the highlights are 1) the money comes from oil companies’ profits, 2) it will not raise gasoline prices as the price of oil is set on the world market, and 3) $4 billion to develop alternatives to oil’s monopoly is a healthy way to cure what ails this country. Here's a Q & A with more.

THE PLAN
Our message is this: America is addicted to oil, and Prop 87 is the prescription for oil addiction. To communicate this message, we did a press event on Tuesday, October 24, 5 PM, at the Ferry Plaza in San Francisco.

Overhead flew airplane banner ads — we call them Freedom Flies—with the following messages:

PROP 87 – CPR FOR THE ELECTRIC CAR
PROP 87 – Rx FOR OIL ADDICTION

And on the ground we had about 50 activists in white doctors coats and nurse uniforms with prescription pads--recommending Prop 87 for lowering oil consumption, natch--signs, costumes, and related props. Parked in the background were electric cars and plug-in hybrids (thanks, Plug-in America). Signs were waved, horns honked, and Freedom Flies flew overhead.

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously declared the day ‘Oil-Addiction Awareness Day’ and endorsed Prop 87.

Fox and Univision covered for TV, Air America on the radio dial, and two Chinese-language newspapers as well.

For the full report with links and images, check out the Vote Solar blog: http://getsomesun.votesolar.org/.