Arnold Schwarzenegger Tastes Solar Cooking: “Fabulous!”
Energy Seeds
April 15, 2008
 On
Tuesday, March 25, 2008 solar cooking became “mainstream”
in California. California Ag Day was held on the west
steps of the state Capitol building. This year’s
theme was “Decisions Today will be Impacting Tomorrow.”
Thousands attended to see booths relating to agriculture
in California and healthy eating. Over 1,200 people
sampled solar cooked sweet potatoes made by 6th graders
from Paradise Intermediate School’s Evergreen 6
program and 4th-5th grade students from Plainfield school
in Woodland. Those sampling the solar-oven-made goods
included hundreds from the public, celebrity chef Guy
Fieri from the Food Network, and several policy makers
including assemblymen and the Governor himself! The
following story shares some perspectives from that day.
“Talking to many people at on time about how our
solar ovens work and what we came to do that day, was
hard, but soon got easier as the day wore on. I started
to say the same thing over and over again, and had to
find something new to say. When I found something that
sounded right, I would start to say that over again
and would start the process again. Near the end of the
day, the governor came around to all the booths to try
the great food and listen to people talking about the
agriculture of California. At first I was nervous, but
near the end of my part of the speech, it was just like
talking to a regular person.” Serenity Fitzgerald,
6th Grade - Evergreen 6
“On Tuesday March 25, 2008, Evergreen 6 took thirteen
students to the California State Agriculture day. I was
one of those lucky thirteen students to attend. Serenity
Fitzgerald and I recited the following speech: ‘Hello,
would you like to try a sweet potato that we have made
in our solar ovens? We are a solar school in Paradise,
California and our name is Evergreen 6. We are a solar
school because we have a solar panel at our school and
we have sixteen ovens that we have cooked in today.’
Little did we know that one of the people we would be
reciting this speech to was the governor of California:
Arnold Schwarzenegger! After he tried one he said, ‘Good
job. Fabulous, keep up the good work.’ Serenity and
I shook his hand and then he moved on. The task of serving
the governor was exciting and rewarding.”
Jennifer Olson, 6th Grade - Evergreen 6
“In Sacramento, at the California on Agriculture
Day, I was cooking sweet potato fries. We cooked them
at about 300 degrees Fahrenheit for about 30 minutes.
We cooked 30 bags of them. The normal temperature for
cooking them is 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 18-20 minutes.
Since our ovens did not get that hot we had to make do
with what we had. It was very quick going after a while.
We put salt and pepper on the fries. We served them on
toothpicks and in cups.”
Cooper Hawkley, 6th Grade - Evergreen 6
“Our students were thrilled to serve Governor
Schwarzenegger some of our solar-baked fries and tell
him about our solar oven project. The students working
at the serving table, Jennifer and Serenity were very
professional and did an awesome job talking to the governor,
as well as all of the other visitors to our booth. Other
students kept an eye on the food as it cooked in the
sun and talked to passers-by about how the solar ovens
cook food using only the energy form the sun. Watching
our students educate others about the importance of
conservation and renewable energy was a powerful experience!”
Amy Behlke, a teacher from Evergreen 6
“The students really stole the show. They were
incredibly professional and well prepared. I am so proud
that they are part of the PG&E Solar Schools Program.”
Karalee Browne, Charitable Contributions/ Solar Schools
Program Manager
PG&E “Bright Ideas Grant” made the students’
purchase of 16 sun ovens possible. These durable yet
portable ovens will bake virtually anything you can
bake in your home oven and they use zero electricity!
The project is aimed at teaching students to understand
solar and renewable energy through hands-on activities.
One goal of the project is to sell baked items, then
use the proceeds to send more solar ovens to a remote
village in Africa. With PG&E’s help, the students
are on their way to sending a second oven! Another goal
of the project is to increase awareness of solar energy.
As a major sponsor of the event, PG&E did more
than just “talk the talk.” “What better,
and fun way, to illustrate the impact renewable power
can make on our future than to have a celebrity chef
instruct our future leaders on the importance of healthy
eating by using solar power?” said Vice President
of Civic Partnerships and Community Initiatives Ophelia
Basgal.While a solar trailer powered the California
Ag Day sound system, celebrity chef, Guy Fieri was cooking
in a solar-powered kitchen. His enthusiasm and energy
were contagious. He mingled with the crowd, happily
signing autographs and talking with fans.
An event like this does not happen without hard work
and great organization. There are many at PG&E that
created this perfect “solar storm.” A special
thanks to the following:
Event Planners: Susie Martinez, Tracy Gremillion
Solar Schools Program Manager: Karalee Browne
Public Affairs: Dan Kim
Area Support: Dolly Hazel, Jeannette Ho (Helmet)
News Support Jennifer Ramp , Paul Moreno
In the end, the day exceeded everyone’s expectations.
Greg Holman, another teacher from Evergreen 6 adds,
“The students were extremely excited to be part
of California Ag Day. As the hundreds in attendance
started to crowd around the solar ovens, they began
to see that they were truly sharing something most people
are not aware of. Many asked where they could buy their
own solar oven, and even more walked away with a huge
smile. Not only was the food delicious, it was made
virtually carbon-free! Solar cooking on the Capitol
steps seems like it could not be topped. Add to that
the huge interest in solar cooking, friendly celebrity
chef Guy Fieri, and a visit by a genuinely interested
celebrity governor! Everyone involved will never forget
that day….”
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