California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger recently announced that he plans to invite global lawmakers and government types to California to address the issue of “global warming.”

The former body-building champion and make-believe conservative disagrees with many of his Republican counterparts on the climate issue, and has made climate change a leitmotif of his current administration.

Schwarzenegger has battled the Bush administration over the imposition of tighter emission control regulations for vehicles. California even sued the federal government after the feds denied their attempt to impose new emission standards. Fed up with what he perceives as a crisis of leadership in Washington, Schwarzenegger moved forward with plans for a mid-November meeting in Los Angeles. Two years ago, Schwarzenegger signed into law a measure that requires the state to cut emissions by one-third by 2020. Some Republicans lawmakers have moved to slow the implementation, citing tough economic times.

Meanwhile, Gov. Schwarzenegger has been linked to a private investment group set to profit handsomely should regulators approve a massive Mojave Desert Preserve solar energy project under BrightSource Energy. Robert F. Kennedy, staunch environmentalist and cousin of first lady Maria Shriver, and former California state Environmental Protection Secretary Terry Tamminen are senior advisers at VantagePoint Venture Partners. VantagePoint has a multimillion-dollar interest in BrightSource. The project, when complete, would provide power to 142,000 homes and cost about $2 billion. BrightsSource hopes to build three solar-powered plants situated on Federal land near the Nevada-California borders. Kennedy and Tamminen deny lobbying for the project, but each stands to profit should regulators give it the green light. No so for Schwarzenegger, however. He has been effusive in his praise for BrightSource, telling those at a joint conference of Mexican and U.S. governors that, “They’re (BrightSource) going to blanket the world with solar panels.…”

Whilst Schwarzenegger tilts at windmills and his cronies get rich, Californians battle the very real crisis of a drop in home values. Californians might be better served if Governor Schwarzenegger were to give greater attention to the state’s dire tax situation. With housing values plummeting 30 percent or more, California will be hard pressed to fund its smorgasbord of social programs let alone essential services with such a declining tax base. But no matter, at least Schwarzenegger’s friends will have secured a sweet solar energy deal and Arnold can rest easy knowing he is at the forefront of the battle against climate change.

Michael E. Telzrow is Executive Director of the National Railroad Museum and a Contributor to The New American magazine.

TrackBack URI for this entry

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Show/Hide comments

Write comment

This content has been locked. You can no longer post any comment.