More people around the world recognize Arnold Schwarzenegger as the ‘Terminator’ rather than California’s 38th governor, a high-profile role he filled from 2003 to 2011. A prolific actor and world-class bodybuilder who achieved the titles ‘Mr. Universe’ and ‘Mr. Olympia’ many times over, Schwarzenegger was nominated for the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports by President George H. W. Bush in 1990. Clearly, public service agreed with him. When the Republican ‘Governator’ successfully ran for office in a recall election against then-Governor Gray Davis in 2003, his chances for turning around a state in financial turmoil were widely debated. What occurred during his tenure was strong leadership and a surprising knack for championing both business and the environment. This interview 18 years ago by Green Car Journal editor Ron Cogan shares former Governor Schwarzenegger’s strong views on hydrogen, electric vehicles, alternative fuels, and the need to mitigate air pollution and carbon emissions.
This article shares a 2006 interview of Governor Schwarzenegger by editor/publisher Ron Cogan and is presented as it originally ran in Green Car Journal’s Spring 2006 issue.
Addressing California Air Pollution
Ron Cogan: Air pollution has represented one of California’s epic challenges. How would you say the state’s air quality is doing today?
Gov. Schwarzenegger: “California has made great strides to improve air quality in the past 20 years. There are far fewer Stage One smog alerts, for example, than there were just five or 10 years ago. But so much more remains to be done. That’s why in my Action Plan for California’s Environment, I pledged to reduce air pollution by 50 percent by the end of this decade, and we’ve worked hard to achieve that goal. In my first year in office, we put $140 million a year of permanent funding into the Carl Moyer program and more money into the Breathe Easier campaign, two programs that take the most polluting cars, trucks, and buses off the road and put clean, alternative fuel vehicles in their place. We’ve also put state government on an ‘energy diet’ with my Green Buildings Initiative because electricity generation is another source of air pollution. And in my Strategic Growth Plan, I made air quality a component of our state infrastructure – right up there with roads, mass transit, water projects, and schools.”
RC: Your most high-profile vision for California’s transportation future involves hydrogen. Why this fuel?
Schwarzenegger: “Hydrogen is fantastic because the only emission from the tailpipe is water. It is also a fuel that we can produce in California, instead of relying on oil from foreign countries. In fact, we can make hydrogen from solar power and water; we can make it from biomass that comes from our farms; we can make it from waste materials. It’s the best hope we have to make California and the United States energy independent and end our oil addiction.”
Promoting Hydrogen with Industry
RC: Have you gained the support you were expecting for this hydrogen effort from auto and energy companies?
Schwarzenegger: “Absolutely. They are my partners in the Hydrogen Highway Network and we couldn’t do it without the car companies, the energy companies, the environmental groups, our amazing California universities, and my team at CalEPA. As I always say, we get much more done when we all work together.”
RC: What about political support?
Schwarzenegger: “That’s been fantastic too. The members of the Legislature are my partners and the Hydrogen Highway is a great example of how we can get great things done for the people of California when we work together. And may I add, that we have all enjoyed driving the hydrogen cars that are being demonstrated throughout the state right now.”
A Hydrogen Revolution
RC: How much do you expect a hydrogen fueling infrastructure to cost the state?
Schwarzenegger: “Thanks to the 200 partners who helped us draft the blueprint for the Hydrogen Highway Network, the state is actually investing a very small amount compared to the terrific investments being made by energy companies, automakers, local air districts, the federal government, and many other partners.”
RC: What financial impact would you expect hydrogen vehicles, and the supporting industries surrounding a growing hydrogen vehicle fleet, to have on the state?
Schwarzenegger: “California is already the center of the hydrogen technology revolution. Just like Silicon Valley is to computers, we will see more and more hydrogen businesses starting up or expanding in our state and that’s great for our economy.”
Promoting Hydrogen Partnerships
RC: Other states are also striving for hydrogen leadership. How can California stay ahead and attract hydrogen-related business?
Schwarzenegger: “By continuing our partnerships and implementing the vision of the Hydrogen Highway. That’s what was missing from the efforts in every state. No one wanted to build fueling stations without vehicles; and no one wanted to mass produce hydrogen vehicles without a network of fueling stations. We’ve solved that problem and that’s why everyone is coming to California to start the hydrogen economy.”
RC: We’ve heard before that California’s Zero Emission Vehicle mandate had a direct influence on development of Partial Zero Emission Vehicles and on hybrids. Do you see a value in mandates like this?
Schwarzenegger: “Each advance stands on the shoulders of what came before. Hydrogen vehicles will benefit from battery electric car technology and so many other innovations that started right here in California.”
RC: How important are extremely low emission hybrids to our transportation mix?
Schwarzenegger: “Very important. When I visited Japan, Prime Minister Koizumi and I talked about how he was ‘greening’ the government fleet there, both to clean up air pollution and to get more out of limited fuel supplies. We’re doing the same thing here, which is why I launched the ‘Flex Your Power at the Pump’ campaign to educate drivers about how to save as much as 15% of their fuel, which saves money and spares the air.”
Alternative Fuels Play a Part
RC: What about other alternative fuels like ethanol and natural gas?
Schwarzenegger: “These fuels are important too, because we must end our addiction to oil and while hydrogen vehicles are not yet affordable for everyone, right now you can go out and buy flex fuel vehicles or vehicles that run on natural gas and biofuels.”
RC: You’ve called for substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. What kind of changes will be required for motor vehicles to contribute their share to these reductions?
Schwarzenegger: “We know that vehicles contribute as much as 50 percent of the greenhouse gases, so they will have to make big reductions. That’s why I’ve said all along that I support California’s landmark greenhouse gas reduction law (AB 1493 Pavley) and will defend it in court from the challenges that we know are coming.”
Focus on All Transportation Modes
RC: How do you stand on cleaning up school buses?
Schwarzenegger: “My budget each year has provided money to scrap the dirtiest, oldest buses and replace them with cleaner vehicles. I’ve seen the studies that show how bad the air quality is inside those old buses and we must protect our children.”
RC: How important is it to focus on non-road vehicles and other sources to address air pollution?
Schwarzenegger: “Of course, that’s important too. That’s why I appointed Bob Sawyer as Chair of the California Air Resources Board, because he’s the leading scientist on these matters and I know that with our other Board members and the great staff at CARB, we will win the battle against air pollution, no matter what the source.”
Hydrogen, Biodiesel, Other Clean Fuels
RC: California uses an enormous amount of gasoline and diesel fuel. How can the state decrease its vulnerability to price spikes and possible motor fuel shortages?
Schwarzenegger: “We need to expand the use of biodiesel in California and get more of our trucks and buses running on natural gas and other cleaner fuels. Of course, if we reduce our demand for gasoline that also allows refineries to produce more diesel, which reduces the potential for shortages. But the key thing is to move away from petroleum and towards hydrogen and other clean fuels.”
RC: If there was one thing you could do to improve air quality or energy diversity during your time as Governor, what would it be?
Schwarzenegger: “I’d say the key thing is to make sure every Californian understands that each of us is responsible to solve these problems of air pollution and oil addiction. Each of us can walk more or ride a bike, take a bus, drive a fuel-efficient car, promote energy efficiency in the workplace, and take other measures to improve air quality and reduce our dependence on oil. And of course, as soon as hydrogen cars are in the showrooms – within the next few years – I hope everyone will buy them and start driving on California’s Hydrogen Highway!”