SACRAMENTO, California, December 14, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2010 Green Governor of the Year Award was presented to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of California, by Lex Heslin, President and CEO of Beautiful Earth Group. The award was established by Beautiful Earth Group, a leading sustainable energy, products and services company, to annually honor a Governor who shows the greatest leadership, courage, understanding and action in improving the environment.

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According to Heslin, Governor Schwarzenegger was the first governor chosen for this award because of his groundbreaking achievements in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combating climate change, his push for an increase in the state's renewable energy portfolio requirement, his ability to balance the complex interests of environmental groups, energy developers, utilities and consumers, and, in an election year, for turning the tide against a regulatory framework that potentially supports legalized pollution.

"Governor Schwarzenegger has worked tirelessly to protect the environment and to create sustainable solutions in California," said Heslin. "He has advanced the research and generation of clean energy light years ahead of other states. He has succeeded in the face of many challenges, and California, the United States and the planet will benefit for many years to come from his continual decision to do the right thing."

"I'm honored to be the first Governor chosen for this award," said Governor Schwarzenegger. "California is showing the world that you can protect the environment and grow the economy at the same time. We are creating a new economic foundation for the 21st Century built on clean fuel, clean energy and clean cars that is turning California into the green capital of the nation and the world, and I couldn't be more proud of these accomplishments."

The Green Governor of the Year Award will be presented annually at the Opportunity Green conference, America's leading green business conference, which draws more than 1,000 participants a year to Los Angeles.