It's Not Easy Being Green ... and Republican
Nov. 17, 2003 -- When it comes to understanding where Arnold Schwarzenegger stands on environmental issues, the new California governor's Hummer offers a clue.
During his campaign Schwarzenegger was not afraid to flaunt his admiration for the gas-guzzling vehicles — he was, after all, the one who convinced General Motors it could market a civilian version of the military SUV 11 years ago.
But in an effort to prove he can own big cars and promote a clean environment too, Schwarzenegger declared he was converting one of his Hummers (he has five) to run on hydrogen, a much cleaner fuel than diesel or gasoline.
"I want to show them my car when it's done and inspire Detroit and let them know that this is what we can do," Schwarzenegger said at a campaign event in Carpinteria, Calif.
The Hummer has not yet been converted — and people from all parties in the country's most populous state are waiting — waiting to see if Schwarzenegger's fuel-hungry Hummer will run on hydrogen and, more importantly, waiting to see what the famous governor can get done as a Republican who purports to support both business and environmental issues.
How well he walks that line could have reverberations across the country.
"California has over 10 percent of the nation's population and with Schwarzenegger's celebrity status, people will be looking at the state more than ever," said Bill Allayaud, director of the California branch of the Sierra Club. "His policies may be magnified and could show the country what can be done. But it's too early to tell."
All Eyes on California
Some Republicans will be watching the governor with special attention. Martha Marks, president of the Albuquerque, N.M.-based Republicans for Environmental Protection, is hopeful that Schwarzenegger may help revive the image of the conservation-minded Republican that was once embodied by people like Teddy Roosevelt, who created five new national parks and preserved millions of acres of national forest, and Dwight D. Eisenhower, who set aside land to create the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.
Marks' group has not been pleased with President Bush's stance on environmental policies — they recently assessed the president's record from increasing logging rights to easing clean-air standards and gave him a "D." But they're encouraged by the environmental goals that Schwarzenegger laid out in his campaign.
"Certainly having a celebrity governor with clout who is pro conservation can only be a good thing," said Marks.
California environmentalists have taken a more cautious view.
They point out that while the new governor has named a progressive environmental leader as head of the state's Environmental Protection Agency, the No. 2 at the same agency is an executive from a timber company who, some fear, is likely to fight for increased logging of ancient forests.
They add that during his campaign Schwarzenegger took donations from developers who may now try and weigh in on the new governor's policies.
"On paper Schwarzenegger has laid out an impressive array of environmental policies," said the Sierra Club's Allayaud. "We remain cautiously optimistic, but the question is will he be able to stand up to those who have other interests?"
In his campaign speeches, Schwarzenegger has said he can and his campaign spokesman claims the governor has appointed people with a wide array of views because he favors the idea of vigorous debate within the Statehouse.
Whether or not vigorous debate will lead to solutions or standoffs remains to be seen, but the new governor will at least be starting his term with an ambitious list of environmental goals.
A Grand, Green Plan
Schwarzenegger's state EPA chief, Terry Tamminem, hails from a progressive Santa Monica-based conservation group and reportedly was tapped by Robert Kennedy Jr., a well-known conservation lawyer and cousin to the new governor's wife, Maria Shriver. During Schwarzenegger's campaign, Tamminem (who was not available for comment) drafted an environmental action plan that surprised many Democrats for its boldness.
Included is a call to cut air pollution statewide by 50 percent by using aggressive measures such as buying and retiring heavy polluting vehicles. The plan also calls for providing steep incentives to those who install solar power in their homes so that by 2005, half of all new homes would include solar photovoltaics.
In its logging policy, the new governor's action plan seeks to protect forests and places him in direct conflict with Bush, who has sought to increase logging in Sierra Nevada national forests.
Perhaps the grandest among the governor's environmental goals is the call to invest in a "hydrogen highway" program that would popularize the alternative fuel by installing hydrogen fueling stations every 20 miles on California's major interstate highways before 2010. Right now California hosts the most alternative fuel stations — 12 — but Tamminem has argued that's not nearly enough to encourage a substantial number of drivers to switch to cleaner fuels.
Costly Makeover
Schwarzenegger is eager to become a "hydrogen highway" customer himself in his newly converted Hummer. As for that hydrogen-powered Hummer — can it be done? Certainly, says Tai Robinson, one of four people bidding to convert the new governor's car. But it won't be cheap.
Robinson, a former U.S. Ski Team member who now converts vehicles to run on alternative fuels, has already converted one Hummer so it can run on hydrogen or natural gas.
"It would get about twice the mileage," Robinson said. "Plus, the air coming out of the tailpipe will actually be cleaner than when it goes in. These cars literally clean the air."
Robinson estimates that between making new parts and getting proper certification, a switch over for Schwarzenegger's $100,000 Hummer would cost just less than $400,000.
That may be a daunting expense for most people, but for a former movie star who wants to set an example, it could be worth every cent.