Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger met with a local wind farm company and Palm Springs city officials Tuesday to talk about creating clean technology jobs in the Coachella Valley.
With the backdrop of the Valley's famous windmills behind him, the governor discussed a tax credit for green tech manufacturing equipment sales and the city's innovation hub designation at the 9:30 a.m. news conference at Wintec Energy's Carver Field.
The governor also spoke about the need to speed up the legislative process when it comes to creating the sorts of green jobs that he sees in our local economy's future.
"We're derailing ourselves," the governor said about the the often lengthy process businesses must go through in order to get the necessary permits to build new energy plants.
"Any project that can move forward, we need to do that right away," Schwarzenegger said, adding that projects should "move as fast in the public as we do in the private sector."
Schwarzenegger was joined by a host of local political officials from the cities designated as an innovation hub, as well as California Secretary of Labor Vicky Bradshaw and Assemblyman Manuel Perez, D-Indio. Also on hand were several union members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
Innovation HubPalm Springs, Desert Hot Springs and Cathedral City were designated as an iHub in January. The designation, issued through the California Innovation Hub program, allows the city to receive federal and state funding. The program is aimed at promoting collaborations between cities, universities and private industry to foster job creation.
The city plans to partner with UC Riverside, Cal State San Bernardino and College of the Desert, then entice local businesses to collaborate on emerging-technology projects and research.
The Coachella Valley is rich in renewable resources, including wind, solar and geothermal energy.
