Our new ‘green’ state senator flunks his first test
Written by VCDCC Admin on April 2nd, 2009It didn’t take long. State Sen. Tony Strickland, (R-Moorpark) who listed himself as a “renewable energy businessman” on the ballot in the Senate District 19 race last fall, predictably failed to vote on renewable energy legislation on Tuesday, March 31.
The bill, SB 14, would require investor-owned utilities to receive one-third of their power from renewable energy sources by 2020. These utilities are now required to purchase 20 percent of the energy they sell from renewable sources by next year. The current legislation, authored by Sen. Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) would revise the requirement to match one ordered by the governor in November.
The 21-16 vote was mostly along party lines. While in the Assembly, Strickland did vote against SB 1078 in 2002, which set the current 20 percent renewable energy requirement for utilities. He also opposed most other environmentally friendly legislation.
The senator, who justified his ballot designation by his partnership in a wave energy company formed around the same time he decided to run in a green-leaning district, apparently received little or no income from GreenWave Energy Solutions last year, according to a Form 700 document filed with the state. The form listed his chief source of income as his wife Audra Strickland’s Assembly salary. He also received income from the sale of real estate.
Now, to be fair, Strickland told Ventura County Star reporter Timm Herdt last year that he voted against the 2002 bill because he opposes government mandates. But this year he decided just not to vote at all. Dodging tricky votes and uncomfortable situations seems to run in the family.
Tuesday’s walk only serves to underscore the very disingenuous campaign he ran last fall. Voters would expect someone who claims such green credentials to support public policy which promotes renewable energy practices, especially when it has been mandated by our Republican governor.
At least nobody can accuse him of helping out his own “business.”
It didn’t take long. State Sen. Tony Strickland, (R-Moorpark) who listed himself as a “renewable energy businessman” on the ballot in the Senate District 19 race last fall, predictably failed to vote on renewable energy legislation on Tuesday, March 31.
The bill, SB 14, would require investor-owned utilities to receive one-third of their power from renewable energy sources by 2020. These utilities are now required to purchase 20 percent of the energy they sell from renewable sources by next year. The current legislation, authored by Sen. Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) would revise the requirement to match one ordered by the governor in November.
The 21-16 vote was mostly along party lines. While in the Assembly, Strickland did vote against SB 1078 in 2002, which set the current 20 percent renewable energy requirement for utilities. He also opposed most other environmentally friendly legislation.
The senator, who justified his ballot designation by his partnership in a wave energy company formed around the same time he decided to run in a green-leaning district, apparently received little or no income from GreenWave Energy Solutions last year, according to a Form 700 document filed with the state. The form listed his chief source of income as his wife Audra Strickland’s Assembly salary. He also received income from the sale of real estate.
Now, to be fair, Strickland told Ventura County Star reporter Timm Herdt last year that he voted against the 2002 bill because he opposes government mandates. But this year he decided just not to vote at all. Dodging tricky votes and uncomfortable situations seems to run in the family.
Tuesday’s walk only serves to underscore the very disingenuous campaign he ran last fall. Voters would expect someone who claims such green credentials to support public policy which promotes renewable energy practices, especially when it has been mandated by our Republican governor.
At least nobody can accuse him of helping out his own “business.”
