Gov. Schwarzenegger, California Clean Energy Fund Announce $1 Million Grant to Build Nation's First Energy Efficiency Center

On the heels of his historic Climate Action Summit, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today joined with the California Clean Energy Fund to award a $1 million grant to UC Davis to create the nation’s first university-based Center on Energy Efficiency and touted the link between a strong economy and a clean environment.

“Yesterday I hosted a Climate Summit where we discussed my Climate Action Report which enables California to become a leader in reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” said Governor Schwarzenegger. “With this grant, UC Davis is going to become the academic leader of the energy efficiency movement.”

Images of the GovernorThe multi-disciplinary research center at UC Davis will focus on advancing innovation and bringing energy efficiency products, services and practices to the state’s marketplace.

The market for energy efficient technologies is growing rapidly. The California Environmental Protection Agency estimates that demand for energy efficient technologies will create a market potential of over $180 billion annually. The Governor’s environmental and energy goals will help drive California’s growing industry, pushing the development of reduced-energy lighting technologies, manufacturing equipment and vehicles; energy-efficient architectural design; and other goods and services.

This trend toward greater energy efficiency will bring jobs and investment to the Golden State. The Natural Resources Defense Council estimates that venture capital investment in energy efficient technologies will create 52,000-114,000 jobs and $11 to $25 billion in annual revenue by 2010.

The Governor has consistently shown leadership on climate change and the environment, including:

* Promoting the clean power of the sun: To take advantage of the cleanest, most reliable energy source California has, the Governor developed the Million Solar Roofs Initiative to have 1 million solar roofs on residential and commercial buildings by 2018. The Public Utilities Commission has taken action to implement this plan.
* Promoting eco-friendly behavior in the workplace: To promote energy and water efficiency and encourage the practice of eco-friendly behaviors, the Governor signed an Executive Order creating the Green Building Initiative for both public and private buildings. This initiative sets goals to reduce electricity use and create more energy-efficient structures throughout the state
* Fighting global warming: Putting California at the forefront in the fight against global warming, the Governor made history by signing an Executive Order setting groundbreaking goals with bold greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets to reduce emissions to 2000 levels in the next five years and to 1990 levels in 15 years.
* Creating the Hydrogen Highway: Governor Schwarzenegger has led the nation in innovative ways to use renewable energy, including creating the Hydrogen Highway. As part of his Hydrogen Highway plan, the Governor invested $6.5 million to support a network of more than 16 filling stations and a growing fleet of cars and buses that run on this clean fuel of the future.
* Getting the dirtiest cars and buses off our streets: The Governor invested more than $165 million to get gross polluters off our streets. This funding will reduce smog-forming oxides of nitrogen emissions by approximately 7,000 tons annually, equivalent to taking more than 700,000 cars off the road.
* Implementing new car emissions standards: Working to clean California’s air, the Governor implemented regulations toughening new car standards to reduce emissions by 30 percent in the next 10 years, cutting ozone-forming pollution by five tons per day by 2020 and drastically increasing fuel efficiency.
* Launching the Breathe Easier campaign: In March of 2005, Governor Schwarzenegger launched the Breathe Easier public awareness campaign to help educate Californians about the negative effects of vehicle pollution and encourage participation in the state’s vehicle retirement program for gross polluters.
* Establishing the Sierra Nevada Conservancy: The Governor placed 25 million acres under conservation management in a region that produces 65 percent of the state’s water supply and half of all timber.

The Climate Action Report and supporting documents can be viewed online at: www.climatechange.ca.gov.