I can’t stop smiling when I think about the incredible progress we’ve made in the world of renewable energy. It’s been an amazing journey, and I feel like I’ve had a front-row seat to the clean energy revolution.
Remember when I first ran for governor of California and the environmentalists were a bit skeptical? They looked at me, the conservative action star who drove Hummers and blew things up in movies, and they were like, “Give us a break, this is just another empty campaign promise.” I understood their skepticism, I really did. I was an outsider, a newcomer to the environmental movement, and they had every right to be a bit wary.
But you know what? I was determined to prove them wrong. Over the next seven years, my administration worked tirelessly to implement groundbreaking policies that transformed California into a beacon of clean energy. We set ambitious goals, like the million solar roofs initiative, reducing pollution by 25%, and replacing coal and gas with wind and solar. And you know what? We crushed it.
As we achieved one milestone after another, the environmentalists started to come around. They went from looking at me with suspicion to literally hugging me and inviting me to speak at clean energy summits around the world. They embraced the “California model” and saw that sometimes, a fresh set of eyes and a new perspective can breathe life into a movement.
That’s why I believe it’s so important to keep the doors of the environmental movement open to newcomers, outsiders, and the newly converted. We need that infusion of new ideas, that willingness to challenge the status quo, and that unwavering determination to make a difference.
And let me tell you, the progress we’ve seen in the renewable energy space is nothing short of remarkable. When I look at the startups and innovations happening in places like the port of Los Angeles – from robots and clean cement to sustainable seafood and companies harnessing power from algae and waves – I can’t help but feel a sense of awe and excitement.
But you know what? We can’t afford to rest on our laurels. The clean energy revolution is unfolding at a breakneck pace, and we need to keep up. That’s why I’m issuing a call to action – a rallying cry for a new environmentalism that’s all about building, growing, and embracing common sense.
Because let’s be real here, the old environmentalism was a bit, well, stuck in the past. It was all about protesting, chaining yourself to construction equipment, and using lawsuits and permitting to slow everything down. And I get it, back then, growth meant more fossil fuels, more pollution, more death. But those days are over, my friends. We’ve got the technology, the know-how, and the drive to build a clean, abundant energy future.
So let’s stop the bureaucratic red tape from holding us back. Let’s clear the path for those thousands of clean energy projects that are waiting to be built – the ones that could power our entire grid if only we’d get out of their way. And let’s do it fast, because people are literally dying from the pollution caused by fossil fuels.
President Biden, I’m looking at you. Congress, I’m calling you out. We need to reform the system, streamline the processes, and get these green projects off the ground as quickly as possible. The time for talk is over – it’s time for action.
And my environmentalist friends, I’m looking at you too. It’s time to embrace a new way of thinking, a new mindset that’s all about building, growing, and getting things done. We can’t afford to be the old, out-of-touch boomers who are still looking for their beepers and VCRs. We need to wake up to the reality that’s unfolding before our eyes, and we need to change and adapt with the times.
So let’s take a page from the tech industry and make “Move fast and build things” our new mantra. Let’s clear the way for the clean energy renaissance, the green revolution that’s sweeping the globe. Because when I look at the progress we’ve made, I can’t help but feel inspired and optimistic about the future.
Sure, there will be challenges, and we’ll need to stay on top of things. But I believe in us, I believe in the power of innovation, and I believe in the ability of human ingenuity to solve even the most daunting problems.
So let’s get to work, my friends. Let’s build, build, build – a clean and abundant energy future, a better and cleaner world. Because the stakes couldn’t be higher, and the time to act is now.
As I said, you don’t want to be the old out-of-touch boomer asking for someone’s beeper number or looking for a VCR to watch movies. It’s time to wake up, embrace the new reality, and be part of the renewable renaissance that’s unfolding before our eyes.
Are you ready to be a part of this clean energy revolution? Because I sure as hell am, and I can’t wait to see what we can accomplish together.