The California Experiment: the Golden State Turns Green

With an eager eye, I’m closely following California’s renewed push into solar energy and sustainable technologies. The Golden State has always been slightly ahead of the curve when it comes to “greenness,” but with its current cash flow problems and unemployment, California could serve as a useful testing ground to see whether or not going green is really the answer to this recession. Many, including Thomas Friedman, have argued that sustainability, renewables, and economic growth are inextricably linked. By refocusing our collective efforts on energy independence and environmental responsibility, the United States (and California as a microcosm) could reposition itself as a global leader, financially strong and ecologically balanced.

Biased and idealistic, I am easily swayed by the logic of such pronouncements. After all, the world is rife with examples of families, communities, and entire cities that have put these basic principles to work, sometimes with remarkable success. But an entire State? California is (or was) a G7 nation in its own right, so if going green truly does reverse its current economic woes, such a comeback would be hard for naysayers to ignore. Equally important, it would be difficult for investors to overlook as well.

Unfortunately, solar leaders like Germany are not willing to wait out the California experiment. Already, subsidies and solar investments are slated for downsizing in 2010. On the one hand, this makes it easier for the US to reposition itself as a leader in the field, picking up where others have left off. On the other hand, pride of authorship is not truly a luxury in which we can indulge, given the urgency at hand. Nothing would make me happier than to have America lead the rest of the world out of the climate crisis, but if salvation comes from some remote corner of the globe instead, I’d be fine with that…ecstatic in fact. If Denmark, Vanuatu, or Cambodia suddenly produced a breakthrough energy technology that rocked the foundation of modern civilization, I would easily get over it.

Until such a time arises, however, my current focus is on California. If Schwarzenegger and company can extract some type of economic turnaround from AB 920 and SB 32, then hopefully this will serve as a wakeup call to all families, communities, states, nations, and remote corners of the world that environmental responsibility and economic growth are positively correlated.

Tags: california, germany, solar energy

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