Less than an hour after polls closed, opponents of alternative energy measure Proposition 10 claimed victory, saying voters had not been fooled by a scheme to enrich billionaire T. Boone Pickens.

"Proposition 10 is the ultimate example of a wealthy special interest abusing the ballot initiative process to enrich itself," said Richard Holober, the No on 10 spokesman and executive director of the Consumer Federation of California.

"We built a coalition of major environmental, consumer, business, labor, taxpayer and civic organizations that triumphed over Prop 10's $23 million war chest. The defeat of Prop 10 sends a signal that California's ballot initiative process is not for sale to the highest bidder."

The measure was losing 63.4 to 36.6, albeit with only 14.8 percent of the vote counted.

Amy Thoma, a spokeswoman for the Yes on 10 campaign, said the night was still early, but that the odds appeared long for passage.

"We're not expecting a major change in the returns," she said.

Voters were rejecting the measure, she suggested, because the global fiscal meltdown, as well as recent news about California's budget issues, made the concept seem like too much of a financial commitment.

"We look forward to working with the environmental groups and some of the others who are concerned about global warming to see about trying to figure out some solutions," Thoma said.

Proposition 10 would issue $5 billion in bonds to be spent on renewable energy and/or highly fuel efficient vehicles, as well as other renewable energy technology. Much of it would've gone toward proposals using natural gas, in which Pickens has a heavy investment.