Presente.org and The Other 98% Groups Ramp Up Pressure Following Protest at SoCal Edison’s Headquarters

LOS ANGELES – National Latino online group Presente.org and corporate accountability organization The Other 98% are stepping up their efforts to hold Southern California Edison and the big utility lobby accountable for their attacks on solar panel initiatives. California is the nation’s leading solar market, making the state the bellwether for the future of the nation’s renewable energy expansion. 

The cable TV ad starting to run this week in key California districts parodies Edison as a proxy for the big utility lobby targeting the Latino caucus to push through AB 327 in the state legislature. The proposal would add fixed charges to customers of Southern California Edison, San Diego Gas & Electric, and Pacific Gas & Electric territories and could not be avoided by conserving energy or using rooftop solar. The current Latino caucus has received over half a million dollars in donations from the utility lobby.  

The cable TV spot can be accessed at this link: http://bit.ly/saverooftopsolar

“The big utilities can’t claim to be leaders in the use of green and renewable energy if they are attacking one of the pillars of California’s rooftop solar economy” said Arturo Carmona, Executive Director of Presente.org. “By airing this ad and other mobilization efforts, we will continue to demand that our elected representatives stand up to the big utilities and do what’s right. Solar panel initiatives can bring savings to communities that need them the most – families that increasingly find themselves struggling to make ends meet.” 

“California’s power utilities have gone off the rails in an attempt to destroy the Golden State’s incredibly successful rooftop solar program. Shame on them for using their money and their political clout to target Latino politicians,” said John Sellers, Executive Director of The Other 98%. “We’re calling on elected leaders to stand tall against this assault by the dirty power industry. California must continue to lead the way toward a clean energy revolution in America.”

The coalition of groups launched the www.SaveRooftopSolar.com online petition featuring a video that Southern California Edison is demanding to be removed from YouTube under the threat of legal action. 

The ad running on cable comes on the heels of a protest staged by Presente.org and Sierra Club’s My Generation clean energy campaign last week outside the headquarters of Southern California Edison in Rosemead. 

AB 327, the current legislation introduced by Assembly member Henry T. Perea in the California state legislature represents the latest effort by the big utility lobby to curve the growth of rooftop solar. It would add significant fixed charges to energy bills for users in Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison, and San Diego Gas & Electric territories. These fixed charges would amount to $10 a month, or $120 annually, and could not be avoided by conserving energy or using rooftop solar energy. 

About Presente.org

Presente.org is the largest online Latino advocacy organization with solid expertise in building online, social media and grassroots engagement strategies and programs.  Presente is dedicated to moving our nation towards policies and cultural frameworks where the dignity, freedom and well-being of all people outweigh the bigotry, fear and short-term greed of the few. 

About The Other 98%

The Other 98% is a grassroots network of concerned citizens standing against Big Money and corporate lobbyists to make our democracy work for the rest of us.