The solar energy ballot measure known as Measure B went down to defeat Thursday as Los Angeles election officials finished their count of the remaining 49,000 mail-in, provisional and damaged ballots. Sixteen days after the election, city officials announced that Measure B had fallen short of a majority—with 50.5% of voters opposing the plan and 49.5% in favor of it. Measure B would have required the city Department of Water and Power to install 400 megawatts of solar panels by 2014. Backers said it would have reduced the city’s reliance on fossil fuels, provided more dependable power and created good jobs. Opponents said it would have hiked electrical rates significantly and locked out construction trade workers.