The proposed charter pits climate activists — in particular, the left-wing Sunrise Movement — against business and industry groups.It also could serve as a test case for voter interest across the country in ambitious and strict climate goals of the kind also pursued nationally by the Biden administration. El Paso would be embracing the elimination of fossil fuels at the same time that Republicans try to boost natural gas over renewable energy at the state level.
But the most contentious provision is the charter's proposed renewable energy goals, which would be for energy used by the city to be 80% from"clean renewable energy" by 2030 and 100% by 2045. It said the charter would slash El Paso's economy by 41% and cause the city to lose 72% of its energy supply by 2045.They also noted that Proposition K is the second climate proposal to be brought to the ballot in El Paso in less than a year.