San Francisco Voters Back Solar Power Measures Championed By Greenpeace

"This vote sends a strong, clear message to politicians in Sacramento," said Danny Kennedy, Greenpeace's Clean Energy Now! Campaign Coordinator. "Fossil fuels are dirty, expensive, insecure and they cause global warming. Californians want clean energy now."

San Francisco's vote will be a major boost for the solar industry, creating a large increase in domestic demand. It could also spur other cities or states to take similar steps. An upcoming Greenpeace study, "Solar Promise," shows how states would benefit from a modest investment in solar power. The study details the possibilities of new job creation and pollution cuts in each state derived from an increase in solar power.

The Greenpeace "Solar yes!" campaign involved a core group of five young organizers working 10-18 hour days for almost two months to help pass these ballot measures. The group distributed 50,000 leaflets, left 250,000 pieces of literature on doors, distributed 1,500 signs for store and home windows and called 50,000 voters in San Francisco. They recruited more than 200 volunteers to work on the campaign and enlisted the aid of 25 churches and community groups.

"The victory in this campaign was due to the hard work of our young organizers. They have been out there revealing the great possibility that solar power has for San Francisco and the entire country - now the challenge is for other cities and states to see the light and go solar," Kennedy added.