California "green" energy vote seen close: poll

Opponents have taken a small lead in the latest poll on a California ballot measure that calls for half the state's electricity to be generated by renewable sources by 2025, a Field Poll issued on Friday shows.

The poll showed support for California Proposition 7 slipping to 39 percent from 63 percent in July. The latest poll showed 43 percent opposed Prop 7, up from 24 percent in July. Eighteen and that 18 percent were undecided.

In the July poll, 82 percent of those asked said they were not aware of Prop 7, and by late October, still 35 percent of those polled said they had not heard of the initiative, the Field Poll showed.

Supporters say that the measure will create 370,000 jobs in California and make California far-and-away the world leader on renewable energy.

Opponents, which include every major environmental group in the state as well as the state's three investor-owned utilities an unlikely alliance, say Prop 7 is well-intentioned but ill-conceived and would constrict rather than expand renewable power.