Schwarzenegger: time to change the energy debate

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD. -proponents of green technology need a better way to make their case, said Arnold Schwarzenegger, who, in a speech today, doubtless raised his profile as a main supporter.

Former California Governor and film star gave a keynote at ARPA-E Summit here, alternating one-liners funny and serious discussion on the importance of clean energy technologies for the future prosperity of the country.

(Credit: Martin LaMonica/CNET)

California offers a model for technology companies that can help revitalize the economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, helping the country reduce oil imports, he said. Schwarzenegger signed a law that mandates of global warming reductions in greenhouse gases and the State has a mandate of renewable energies, which resulted in nearly 20 percent of electricity from renewable sources.

But he complained the national debate and the political discourse on clean energy, saying too much of it is stuck in the debate on the science of global warming.

Instead, people should focus on immediate benefits from investing in green technologies, including the improvement of health, save money for consumers from efficiency, economic growth and reduced dependence on foreign oil. He said health, there are about 100,000 premature deaths a year, which may be linked to the use of oil.

"Think about what it means in the Central Valley of California, one in six children must walk with an inhaler. I know that we can change the debate and win the debate, "he said. "We cannot talk about global warming because people who can't relate to."

In California, found that policymakers had to fight efforts to repeal the environmental legislation forces the "status quo" in energy. Elections in the autumn, there was a question of ballot, Schwarzenegger said it was funded by the Ohio coal and oil companies of Texas, to scale back environmental legislation.

He said that the recent instability of the Middle East States sent gyrating oil prices, showing the geopolitical impact of our energy policies. "Why do leftovers small country (e.g. Libya) led by a dictator play havoc with the economic security of America?" he said.

Economically, California has been promoting a green economy with job growth in green technologies than other areas. A company, Solazyme, is the creation of algae fuel that reduce greenhouse gases significantly. It is tested by the Navy, not some wacky environmentalists, "she said.

Instead of crafting "far-sighted policies" in the area of energy, politicians are debating the science of global warming. "There is a disconnect between what is happening and what is being debated," he said.