Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is a strong proponent of green business. And yesterday, he appeared at a Palm Springs, Calif. “presser”—with whirling wind turbines as a backdrop—to push his plan to bring green business and green jobs to the Golden State.
From the Palm Springs Desert Sun:
The California Jobs Initiative includes $500 million of incentives going to companies for green job training and hiring new employees, plus a sales tax exemption for businesses purchasing green manufacturing equipment.
“It will send a clear message to every CEO and entrepreneur and innovator that if you invest in the green future of California, then California also will invest in you,” Schwarzenegger said, during a morning news conference at wind company Wintec Energy’s Carver Field off Dillon Road and Valley View Drive.
Schwarzenegger is pushing his green jobs initiative because, unlike most other sectors that are in decline, greentech is growing (albeit at a modest pace).
The ‘Governator’ also mentioned another factor. California is one of only three states in the country that has not passed a sales tax exemption for green tech and other manufacturing equipment. Schwarzenegger believes the tax incentive is critical to enticing green tech companies in Germany and other countries to set up shop in the Golden State.
More on the story here.
photo h/t: Jay Calderon of The Desert Sun
David
Hurry, Ahnold!
Eric Novinson
This is really good news, as a new growth industry is how we have gotten out of economic troubles before in California. Can’t believe California’s one of three states to not have the sales tax exemption for green equipment, definitely want to change that.
Dan Smolen
Thanks, Eric and David.
