Governator leaves big footprint

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger may be touting environmental sustainability, but it doesn’t appear he’s walking the talk.

When it comes to commuting, Schwarzenegger spends three hours every day flying to and from his home in the Southern California suburb of Brentwood to the State Capitol in Sacramento.

Featured on the cover of Newsweek for his eco-friendly accomplishments last year, the governor defended his commute, saying he needs to spend time with his family. The LA Times reported that the governor purchases pollution credits for the carbon dioxide his jet releases, which then fund efforts to reduce greenhouses gases and landfill waste.

Schwarzenegger funds the private jet trips out of his own pocket, but environmentalists say the environment is feeling the true cost. Experts claim that a one-hour flight in a private jet creates as much carbon as a small car in a single year.