Gov. Schwarzenegger visits Richmond, touts “green” growth plan

Gov. Schwarzenegger with Richmond Mayor Gayle McLaughlin.
By: Robert Rogers | January 27, 2010 – 4:42 pm | Filed Under: Changing City, Company Town, Economy, Environment, Front, Uncategorized | Tagged: Economy , Environment , green , jobs , mclaughlin , schwarzenegger
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Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger toured SunPower Systems’ manufacturing plant in Richmond Wednesday morning.

Thomas Werner, right, CEO of SunPower Systems.
The governor held a short press conference after the tour, where he spoke about his “California Jobs Initiative,” a package of five bills he said he will introduce for legislative approval.
Richmond Mayor Gayle McLaughlin, the nation’s only Green Party mayor of a city larger than 100,000 residents, spoke in favor of Schwarzenegger’s plan.
Among the proposals Schwarzenegger said he will push for are elimination of sales tax on “green tech” manufacturing equipment and giving employers a $3,000 payout for hiring previously unemployed state residents.

Schwarzenegger chatted briefly with workers after the press conference.