Greening Hollywood: Arnold Schwarzenegger

Saturday

Green Light For Green Ambassador

Arnold-schwarzenegger-south_of_the_border

According to Deadline.com, CAA’s ace project “Cry Macho,” for Arnold Schwarzenegger, Environmentalist, Superstar, Governor and now Statesman, is getting the greenlight.

Legendary producer Al Ruddy – The Godfather, Million Dollar Baby – is in negotiations, according to Finke, to pay the movie star $10 million upfront and 25% of the box office.

When asked to describe the script that has caught the big guy’s eye, he explained to Entertainment Weekly,…

Cry Macho. It’s a little movie that got my attention because it is so opposite of what you’d expect someone like me to do. It’s about a guy who is a horse trainer. He’s a little bit over-the-hill. The last two years didn’t go so well. But then the owner of the horses gives him a challenge. He sends him to Mexico to get his son… READ ENTIRE EW INTERVIEW

There has also been talk of an animated series called The Governator getting a go. Though that is being reported on again off again in light of the new developments.

Let’s hope that Arnold does for Green Sets what he did for Green[ing] California.

Read More on Deadline.com who is also reporting that Arnold is Baaack with the Terminator franchise.

Recycle, Reuse, Rejoice!

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Paris Announces Autolib' Car Service On Demand

Modeling itself after the successful Autolib' service already in practice in Lyon, France, Paris announced earlier this week that by March 2012, at the latest, their Autolib' service will be fully in play.

AutoLib', the electric car rental program, is modelled after the wildly popular Velib' program, whereby citizens, tourists and visitors alike can pick up a bicycle at numerous points around the city, use it for a half an hour, half a day or longer, and then drop it off at another station when they're finished with it. The pick-up and drop-off stations, which function as one and the same, are nearly as numerous as Metro stations.

The program is designed for short-term use for both the bicycle and Auto usage. They're available 24/7. And it is ridiculously cheap. To use an Autolib' car in Lyon prices start at 2,10 Euro for basic car models from Citroen, Peugeot, Toyota. You first purchase a membership for a minimum of one year and on top of that you pay a deposit to cover any possible damages. But you can even take a car between the hours of 11pm and 7 am for free.

On this program, Paris is worlds ahead of, for example, Santa Monica, a city in California, the nation's greenest state, that prides itself on its green transportation policies.

On December 16th the California Air Resources Board (CARB) voted in favor of California's nation leading Cap-and-Trade program under AB 32.

Here is what California's Governor had to say about it:

And I'm so proud of this team here because it's one thing when the legislators get together and say AB 32 and here's the bill and they give you these documents that are 1,000 pages long and all this stuff. And then the governor goes out and talks about it and I sign it and we have bill signing ceremonies and all of those things that we had. But then someone has to follow through and make it become a reality and the people you see in front of you here are the people that make this become a reality. I know today, even though we are 10 years away from 2020 but I know today that we will have a reduction of 25 percent of greenhouse gases by the year 2020, only because I have such an excellent team here.

I am thinking that California may just need to take some pages from Paris's playbook on public transportation policy. Especially in cities such as San Francisco, Santa Monica, Pasadena and other such coastal cities that are already readily adaptable to something like the Autolib' and the Velib'.

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Thursday

First-of-Its-Kind Renewable Energy Facility, Ivanpah, California

In California in the past few months, 3,500 megawatts of solar have been approved. This is revolutionary. Current total energy usage is approximately 26,000 to 32,000 megawatts of energy. Approved solar plants are now 10 percent of what is used in energy. This makes California the leader in the world.

The following comments are from John Woolard of Brightsource speaking at October 27th Press Conference, Ivanpah, California:

A few facts about Ivanpah, just to put it in perspective: Ivanpah is now the world's largest solar plant under construction. And it takes a lot to get a solar plant under construction. You've got to have transmission, you've got to have permits, you've got to have investors, you've got to have an EPC contractor -- we're honored to have Bechtel here as our EPC contractor.

When it's completed, Ivanpah will double the amount of solar thermal produced in the U.S.

There's a lot of talk about the U.S. and competiveness and China. And Ivanpah alone, one plant, one facility, is two times larger than all of the solar that came in from China that was installed last year -- so one plant, one facility, bigger than all of the solar that came in from China last year.

This project, Ivanpah, will have a dramatic effect on helping us meet our state's clean energy and our climate change goals and in less than two years we'll be producing some of the most reliable and the lowest carbon-content power anywhere in the country. - Mr. John Woolard, CEO, Brightsource (speaking at Press Conference in Ivanpah, California October 27th, 2010)

Water Saving Environmental Design: Dry Cooling

Ivanpah uses dry-cooling as opposed to wet cooling. Dry cooling uses 3 to 4 percent of the water that wet-cool designs use. In the desert, and in many U.S. states, water is an ever more precious commodity. Dry cooling used in the Ivanpah design, then, is an environmentally responsible design.

A Healthy Environment, A Healthy Economy

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was on hand to make a few comments:

When I ran for governor in 2003 I made it very clear that, you know, we should stop the fight over should we protect the environment or should we protect the economy. I always said that we can do both. And I think that we have proven that over the last few years since I have come into office, that you can put both of those together.

And this is why we went, when I came into office, we immediately, aggressively started building the Hydrogen Highway and we started to pass laws -- the Low-Carbon Fuel Standard, the Million Solar Roof Initiative to build solar roofs all over the state of California and also to pass AB 32 and to make a commitment, like some other countries have done all around the world, to reduce our greenhouse gases by 25 percent and to bring it back to the 1990 level. So that was our goal and, after 2020, to reduce it an additional 85 percent.

From Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar

Ivanpah is truly a revolutionary project. It is a pioneering project, as was stated earlier. So I was thinking about it today -- and people were referencing a moon shot here in California with Ivanpah -- I was thinking back to what John Kennedy said back at the beginning of his administration, where he said that we would, in the United States, have the ability, if we only had the courage, to be able to get a man to the moon and we would be able to do that within 10 years. When he made that statement he had the vision of looking way ahead, because none of the facilities had been built, the engineering had not been put together. And so it was a dream and a vision that he had and yet, because of American ingenuity, because of the great people we had involved in those projects, we were able to get a man to the moon within nine years....

But it's also about our reliance on foreign oil. From the days of Richard Nixon and Jimmy Carter in the '70s and coining the term "energy independence," the failed policies on energy of the United States have taken us in the opposite direction. We're now turning the clock back and we're moving forward in a new direction with respect to that energy future that's all important for our national security.

And finally, with respect to clean air -- we will be able to power the economy of our world through clean energy sources and that's part of what we're doing here with capturing the power of the sun.

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Building America's Future

Building America's Future is a select group of U.S. political leaders chosen to consult with Obama and his administration on key issues regarding investment primarily in infrastructure in our nation. Issues include forming public-private partnerships to build roads, bridges, air traffic control systems, waterways, electricity grids and high-speed rail systems for the U.S.

Building America's Future corp. is currently: Gov. Ed Rendell, D-Pennsylvania; Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, R-California; Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Independent-NYC.

(September 8, 2010) SACRAMENTO, CALIF. - Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger issued the following statement today applauding the California Energy Commission’s vote to approve the construction of the 250 megawatt Abengoa solar thermal power plant:

“I applaud the California Energy Commission’s decision to approve the construction of the Abengoa Mojave Solar Project. California needs to do all it can to create more jobs. Solar technology and clean energy are an integral part of California’s economic future and I am proud that our state is leading the way in attracting employers like Abengoa. Protecting the environment and improving the economy go hand in hand, and I hope even more businesses will continue to build solar plants in California.”

In related news...

Energy Commission Approves $10.5 million in Loans for Solar Cell Manufacturers California Companies Will Add More Than 430 Jobs

SACRAMENTO - The California Energy Commission today approved three loans totaling more than $10.5 million for California-based manufacturers of solar products. The low interest loans are part of the state's Clean Energy Business Financing Program (CEBFP) that is providing approximately $30 million in federal stimulus money to eligible businesses that create or retain clean energy manufacturing jobs in California.

"California is investing funds from the federal America Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to rebuild our shrinking manufacturing sector, helping it retool for a new, more robust,and competitive green economy that can put Californians back to work," said Karen Douglas, Energy Commission Chairman. "In this continuing economic downturn, the Clean Energy Business Financing Program provides money to local green companies unable to access capital from lenders and banks."

Details of the CEBFP program are available on the California Energy Commission website at
http://energy.ca.gov/recovery/cleanenergy.html

It' a Green[er] World

September 16-17 Aviation an Environment Summit Geneva, Switzerland

September 19-25 IWA World Water Congress And Exhibition, Montreal

Gaining Ground Summit Oct. 4 - 7, Vancouver

The conference focuses on urban sustainability accomplishments and challenges, and convenes a wide network of urban sustainability practitioners who are playing key roles in numerous fields of professional and community practice. For Vancouver, for any city, to fulfill its green city mission, the power's in the network.

□ Tuesday, Oct 5th "Policy Meets Doing." How fast and how far can political leadership and new policy direction move? How does a city lay out an integrated program for green economy, green systems and green communities? How does a city build durable partnerships with industry and other constituents to advance the green agenda and economy?

□ Wednesday, Oct. 6th "Real Value Thinking About Urban Systems" A One-Day Business Summit For Leaders and Decision-Makers in: Cleantech, Alternative Energy, Municipal Infrastructure and Urban Systems Planning, the Industrial Sector, Valuation and True Value/True Cost Analysis, and Related Capital Markets. Themes: Improving 'Value Literacy;' Embedding Sustainability in Capital and Management Planning; and Financing Sustainability.

□ Thursday, Oct. 7th "Healing Cities" Advancing understanding of the intersection of urban design, human health and community well-being. Strategies to address urban planning processes and design to foster community health, connectivity and the creation of whole communities. Content to address professionals in urban planning and design, health management, related health fields, media and social media, social narrative, and community development.

www.gaininggroundsummit.com

250-858-4600

ELECTRIC VEHICLE ROUNDTABLE AND DRIVE-A-THON

Event will take place on Thursday, September 30, 2010, from 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. at Valcucine's showroom in Beverly Hills. The distinctive presentation reinforces SBCLA's commitment to showcasing environmentally-conscious businesses, and spotlighting cutting-edge sustainability trends and best practices across a broad range of industry sectors.

Moderated by Plug In America's (http://www.pluginamerica.org) VP, Paul Scott, who is also President of the Electric Vehicle Association of Southern California, "Electric Vehicle Roundtable and Drive-a-thon" presents:

** Paul Wilbur, President and CEO, Aptera (http://www.aptera.com)
** K. Forest Beanum, VP of Public Affairs & Communications, CODA Automotive (http://www.codaautomotive.com)
** Richard Steinberg, Manager, Electric Vehicle Operations and Strategy, BMW of North America, LLC (http://www.bmwusa.com/ActiveE)
** Eric Shieh, Account Executive, Coulomb Technologies (http://www.coulombtech.com)
** Mike Sullivan, Owner and President, LAcarGUY (http://www.lacarguy.com/green)

This distinguished group of professionals--representing the cycle of invention to delivery and consumer use--will address the value proposition of these businesses and California's leading role in the sector's growth. "We will explain why this technology will improve our environment, strengthen our economy and increase our national security," states Paul Scott, VP, Plug In America. "With the new era of electric vehicles mere months away, this is information vital to anyone who cares about these issues," Scott added. For More INFO: Sustainable Business Council of L.A.

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Sunday

Revenge of The Electric Vehicle

SACRAMENTO - California drivers soon will be able to find charging stations for their electric cars, or fueling stations for their ethanol-powered vehicles. Last week the California Energy Commission approved three awards that leverage $15.4 million in state funding with $49.6 million in federal stimulus money and $49.3 million in private funds.

"California's investment will leverage more than six times as much money for new infrastructure and new jobs, and help to solve one of the biggest problems with alternative-fueled vehicles - making sure motorists have ready access to fuel, including electricity," said Energy Commissioner Anthony Eggert. "By taking this bold step, state and federal government, along with the private sector, are advancing new technology and collecting important information that will help America replace petroleum and reduce pollution."

The new E-85 dispensers should reduce petroleum use by over 24 million gallons annually and reduce emissions by an estimated 170,000 tons per year. This project will create or retain over 450 jobs while creating opportunities in at least 18 of California's Enterprise Zones.

Assembly Bill 118 (Núñez, Chapter 750, Statutes of 2007) created the California Energy Commission's Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program. The statute, subsequently amended by Assembly Bill 109 (Núñez, Chapter 313, Statutes of 2008), authorizes the Energy Commission to develop and deploy alternative and renewable fuels and advanced transportation technologies to help attain the state's climate change policies.

In Related News SB 722

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger issued the following statement after the Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee passed SB 722 by Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto):

“I applaud the legislature for moving forward on codifying a change in our Renewable Portfolio Standard to 33 percent. I vetoed SB 14 last year because of the negative impact it would have had on California’s energy markets and ratepayers. However, while SB 722 makes progress in addressing those concerns, there are still a number of critical issues that must be addressed before I can sign this bill.

“We must ensure we have the correct mix of in-state and out-of-state resources for a healthy and competitive regional energy market. To meet the 33 percent standard, the legislation must include streamlining our siting and permitting processes for both California renewable generation projects and the transmission lines needed to deliver that energy throughout the state. I cannot sign legislation mandating a higher requirement without ensuring that the necessary projects can be built.

“SB 722 currently does not address this issue and I look forward to working with the author and the legislature as the bill moves forward.”

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Saturday

Eco Car Talk: Tesla And Toyota

On Thursday afternoon Toyota announced it will invest $50 million in Tesla Motors and will partner with Tesla to manufacture electric vehicles (EVs).

: Tesla and Toyota announce partnership, May 20th, 2010.

Additionally, Tesla announced that it will acquire the NUMMI plant in Fremont, California and begin production of its Model S EV in 2012. This is expected to create more than 1,000 green jobs in California.

Tesla expects to produce 20,000 EVs per year. Tesla is a California company, founded in 2003 in Silicon Valley. Their first vehicle, the Tesla Roadster, was the first production automobile to use lithium-ion battery cells and the first production EV with a range greater than 200 miles per charge that could go from 0-60 in under four seconds.

Tesla will use the NUMMI plant to begin production of its second generation vehicle, the Model S EV. This 300-mile range, seven-seat SUV will open Tesla Motors to a whole new market of car buyers.

"What we are witnessing today is an historic example of California's transition to a cleaner, greener and more prosperous future. We challenged auto companies to innovate, and both Tesla and Toyota stepped up in a big way, not only creating vehicles that reduce emissions and appeal to consumers but also boosting economic growth," said Governor Schwarzenegger. "I am thrilled with today's announcement and can't wait to see what this partnership brings next."

: Governor Schwarzenegger announces Tesla-Toyota partnership.

Photos Courtesy: Justin Short

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was joined on Thursday afternoon by President and Chief Executive Officer of Toyota Motor Corporation Akio Toyoda, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Tesla Motors Elon Musk and Lieutenant Governor Abel Maldonado to announce the historic new partnership.

The Governor also recently signed legislation, SB 71, to create a sales tax exemption for the purchase of green-tech manufacturing equipment in California. This expanded a sales tax exemption that applied only to Zero Emission Vehicles, which Tesla took advantage of. The expanded exemption, a part of the Governor's California Jobs Initiative, will not cost the state tax dollars; it will increase revenue by expanding the number of clean technology manufacturing companies with sites in California.

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Thursday

Green Innovation Institute Rocks The Cradle2Cradle Crowd

(Mountain View, CA.,) "California is the perfect birthplace for this Institute, but ultimately its reach is global, and it has been our long-held wish to see the principles of Cradle to Cradle applied globally," said William McDonough, co-founder of the Green Products Innovation Institute.

...for a safer and healthier world for ALL children of ALL species...

"Even before Michael and I wrote Cradle to Cradle in 2002, we have wished and worked for a safer and healthier world for ALL children of ALL species. That world is not just a wish anymore-it is here now, thanks to Gov. Schwarzenegger, the donors and supporters of the Green Products Innovation Institute, and the people of California," continued McDonough.

GPII will work to advance the framework outlined in the book "Cradle to Cradle," authored by architect and designer William McDonough and Dr. Michael Braungart, co-founders of GPII.

Governor Schwarzenegger announcing first-in-the-nation Green Products Innovation Institute. From left to right: Schmidt Family Foundation President Wendy Schmidt, YouTube Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer Chad Hurley, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry Co-Founder William McDonough.

Photo Credit: Justin Short

GPII will help transform how companies design, manufacture and use chemicals - driving a new era in research, innovation, economic growth and competition in the green chemistry sector.

"This Institute will revolutionize the way we design products and serve as a benchmark for those who aspire to set new standards of environmental and human health and safety for all products sold in California," said the Governor of California.

In More Breaking Environmental News Today:

West Coast Governors' Agreement on Ocean Health

The Governors of California, Oregon, and Washington today released eight issue-specific work plans to improve and sustain the health of the three states' shared coastal and ocean resources and the communities that depend on them.

More On GPII: The Institute will help implement this framework by working with industries to create cleaner water and eliminate the concept of waste while creating healthy products.

"California has the most comprehensive Green Chemistry program in the world, and our leadership in ensuring the products we use every day are safe for our families and environment has resulted in the Green Products Innovation Institute choosing to headquarter here in California," said Governor Schwarzenegger.

Nationally-renown design consultancy firm, MBDC (McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry), has given the certification mark along with the Cradle to Cradle ® protocols to the Institute, which will now be responsible for certifying products. Companies from a wide range of industries have already demonstrated the viability and benefits of designing products according to the Cradle to Cradle framework, such as Herman Miller, Shaw Industries, Ford Motor Company, Aveda and Method Laundry. To date, more than 300 products and 90 companies have engaged in the Cradle to Cradle certification (CM) process.

Governor Schwarzenegger has made California a leader in green chemistry and in 2008 signed legislation to establish the first green chemistry program in the United States.

Speakers at this morning's event included California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger; William McDonough, Co-Founder of the Institute; Michael Volkema, Chairman, Herman Miller; Chad Hurley, co-founder and CEO, YouTube; Vance Bell, CEO, Shaw Inc.; Matt Petersen, Executive Director, Global Green; Professor Martin Fischer, Stanford University : www.gpinnovation.org.

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Friday

Fran's Clean Cars Rule!

: Senator Pavley with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson at White House announcement of new federal emission standard for cars based on Pavley's bill.

Picture Gallery Here >>>

California's 2002 law, AB 1493 by then Assemblymember Fran Pavley, (now Senator Pavley), allows California to enact and enforce emissions standards to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles. But we had to fight for that right.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has been one of the biggest champions of the law, if not the biggest, had this to say after the Obama Administration announced it has adopted a clean cars rule modeled after California's first-in-the-nation vehicle emissions standard:

"Thanks to the leadership of the White House, the federal government is following California's example and announcing tough national standards for cleaner cars. These new nationwide standards will drive car companies to provide cleaner automobiles that will create jobs and save consumers money at the pump. This is not only great news for consumers who will see a wider choice of clean, efficient cars in their showrooms, but also for all Americans who will see lower emissions, better environmental protection and greater energy security."

Since taking office, the Governor has aggressively pursued the enforcement of California's 2002 law, AB 1493 by then Assemblymember (now Senator) Fran Pavley, which allows California, independent of the Federal Government, to enact and enforce emissions standards to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles. The state filed a lawsuit against the U.S. EPA in 2008 to overturn its decision denying California's waiver request to enforce the state's emission standards after the California Air Resources Board requested the waiver in 2005. The U.S. EPA granted California's waiver in June 2009. For a complete chronology on the bill, Click HERE >>>.

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Photo Courtesy Darryl Dyck/ Canadian Press

Passing The Torch, Common Goals See Nations Working Together

In Vancouver for the First Annual Leaders' Forum of the Pacific Coast Collaborative, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger began his day bright and early by carrying the Olympic Flame along the Sea Wall of Vancouver's beautiful Stanley Park. The flame glowed especially bright against the backdrop of the sky and Vancouver Harbor at sunrise.

British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell joined the Governator and both enjoyed fans and Olympic spectators who turned out by the thousands to watch this historical run on the Opening Day of Olympic Winter Games 2010.

Since mid-November when the flame arrived in Vancouver from Greece, each day it has been shepherded lovingly from one town to another, all over Canada. Torchbearers have carried it on horseback, in sailboats, on wheelchairs, on dogsleds and even by air when it went up to the Arctic Circle.

The Leaders' Forum of the Pacific Coast Collaborative brings together Washington State, Oregon, British Columbia and California to discuss the economy and environment and other areas of mutual interest. In addition to Governor Schwarzenegger and Premier Campbell, Christine Gregoire, Governor of Washington and Oregon's Secretary of State Kate Brown were also in attendance.

The region of Oregon, Washington and B.C. is sometimes referred to as "Cascadia," alluding to more of a bio-regional and geographical area rather than geo-political boundaries. To include California, with its forward-thinking policies on environmental issues and its wealth of natural resources, is a logical move.

The Pacific Coast Collaborative was formed in June 2008 as a "partnership for leadership, co-operative action and a common voice on issues affecting the Pacific coast region." Alaska is also a member of the collaborative. Its ongoing priorities are Ocean Conservation and Climate Change.

International icon Arnold Schwarzenegger was invited to carry the torch on the day of the Official Opening of the Olympics 2010 by his friend, British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell. He was, in fact, one of 20 Americans to carry the Olympic torch during its 106 day relay throughout Canada. Two American Olympians also enjoyed the honor, Shawn Johnson, gymnast and darling of the Beijing games and Taekwando Olympic Gold champion Steven Lopez both ran with the torch during its cross-country journey.

Photo Courtesy Stephanie Clary

Crowds shouted their warm greetings to the former Mr. Universe Body Builder as he passed by. "He looks so strong," remarked a child who got to see the Terminator up-close, in person. As Schwarzenegger came to the point along the Stanley Park Seawall where he passed the flame off to Sebastian Coe, Chairman of the London 2010 Olympic Organizing Committee, one of the assembled fans yelled out a greeting in Ahhnold-speak "Arh, Arh, Get to the Choppa." The packed in crowd erupted in laughter, and even the Governator busted a smile. You had to be there.

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